What if: Rocky Marciano vs Ray Mercer

[Tantum]

Rocky Marciano
Age: 30
Weight: 185lbs
Height: 71 inches
Reach: 68 inches

Ray Mercer
Age: 30
Weight: 220lbs
Height: 73 inches
Reach: 77 inches

[HomicideHenry]

It'd certainly of been one helluva fight.

Mercer could be out fought as well as outboxed. Maybe the closest to Marciano type of fighter he ever fought was Bert Cooper, which Mercer won by unaminous decision.

But Marciano had a higher workrate than Cooper, therefore greater conditioning. So it'd of been interesting, for sure. I've attempted to do "compubox" punch totals for some of Marciano's fights and he was averaging basically 80 punches a round, and I've seen him throw as high as 150 in a single round.

That certainly would have forced Mercer into constantly staying in defense--- and I can see Marciano winning a unanimous decision over Mercer as a result.

[APerno]

Unrealistic match-up; it's unlikely Marciano would have crossed the color line.

[gilgamesh]

Unrealistic match-up; it's unlikely Marciano would have crossed the color line.

You mean other than those several times he did?

Good competitive matchup. I honestly have a hard time seeing Marciano being able to win it. He'd outhustle Mercer in stretches, and take his share of rounds, but I think Mercer would be too big and strong for him. His jab would bust up Rock, and them overhand rights would turn his lights out or at least knock him down multiple times allowing Mercer to get the win.

[Seamus]

I'm remember the days on here, when the majority opinion would have been that Mercer wouldn't have a chance. The nostalgist almost always picked the guy from the earlier time period regardless of weight.

At his absolute worst, Mercer might drop a close decision, at his best he probably wins by TKO late.

[gilgamesh]

I'm remember the days on here, when the majority opinion would have been that Mercer wouldn't have a chance. The nostalgist almost always picked the guy from the earlier time period regardless of weight.

At his absolute worst, Mercer might drop a close decision, at his best he probably wins by TKO late.

The fact that Marciano is so much smaller than almost every noteworthy Heavyweight who came after him, and the fact that he always had a brawling style meaning he'd be trading lots of punches with these guys, means he loses a lot of mythical matchups against guys from later eras in my mind.

Him and Floyd Patterson were some of the last Heavyweight Champs under 200 pounds.

I still believe he could hold his own with a great deal of fighters, but I can't see him beating guys like this.

[DrDuke]

Marciano would outfight Mercer. Rocky was too relentless and durable. Mercer was a solid and extremely tough boxer, but you needed to be far more elusive to deal with Rocky. Mercer certainly would give a fight to Marciano and he could stand his ground until the final bell, but I favor Marciano in a competetive and intense bout.

[Nile4000]

Mercer UD in a close fight.

[giacomino]

Better matchup size-wise might be Marciano vs Spinks at lt. heavy, or Marciano vs Kovalev or maybe Lebedev

[AntonioMartin]

Marciano would outfight Mercer. Rocky was too relentless and durable. Mercer was a solid and extremely tough boxer, but you needed to be far more elusive to deal with Rocky. Mercer certainly would give a fight to Marciano and he could stand his ground until the final bell, but I favor Marciano in a competetive and intense bout.

You summoned it up best 4 me buddy!

[Woldemar]

Marciano would outfight Mercer. Rocky was too relentless and durable. Mercer was a solid and extremely tough boxer, but you needed to be far more elusive to deal with Rocky. Mercer certainly would give a fight to Marciano and he could stand his ground until the final bell, but I favor Marciano in a competetive and intense bout.

Same.