Could Rocky Marciano Stayed Undefeated if He Continue to fight in the 1960s

[GordonChen]

Yes Or No

[Ambling Alp II]

Assuming he was fighting the top fighters, no.

[Expug]

I don’t like his chances vs Sonny Liston.

[DrDuke]

He could win the chinny Patterson and most likely would. By the moment of facing Liston he could have been aged, but even in prime it would be tough for him to win Liston, who fit the modern definition of a HW well enough and was significantly bigger and more advanced technically.

[bwu]

From what I've read on the board, I think I rate Marciano higher than most. But Marciano would've been 37 in '60 and I don't see him getting past Sonny Liston at that point. I think Eddie Machen would've been giving Rocky trouble at that point, as well.

[elmersalsa]

Nope. Guys like Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams, Sonny Liston and probably Niño Valdez would have been too big for him. They were also younger.

[Ambling Alp II]

From what I've read on the board, I think I rate Marciano higher than most. But Marciano would've been 37 in '60 and I don't see him getting past Sonny Liston at that point. I think Eddie Machen would've been giving Rocky trouble at that point, as well.

Agreed. He would have way past his best by 1960, which is the most important factor here.

[Controversial]

No, he would’ve been in his 40s in the 1960s. Add to that the HWs were getting bigger and stronger in that decade.

[Riddick Bowie]

He'd be too old by the 60s but had he hung around for a couple more fights in the 50s he would have chewed up Floyd Patterson and Nino Valdez.

Prime for prime I don't favour Liston over him. Marciano had his heart tested and passed with flying colours. Liston's ticker is suspect and I don't see him having the will to see out 15 gruelling rounds against an all-time great who wont give in & is doling out punishment.

[elmersalsa]

He'd be too old by the 60s but had he hung around for a couple more fights in the 50s he would have chewed up Floyd Patterson and Nino Valdez.

Prime for prime I don't favour Liston over him. Marciano had his heart tested and passed with flying colours. Liston's ticker is suspect and I don't see him having the will to see out 15 gruelling rounds against an all-time great who wont give in & is doling out punishment.

Wow! It would be hard to tell, but not impossible. If Sonny Liston was around Rocky Marciano's title reign and challenged him, and if Marciano wins, it would have been the greatest win of his career against a very talented heavyweight in his prime.

[gilgamesh]

I don’t like his chances vs Sonny Liston.

Me neither. I think he'd have had his difficulties with Floyd Patterson, but he probably could've knocked out Floyd. He definitely could've beaten Johansson I think. Liston is probably where the reign would've ended if he'd kept fighting.

[Nile4000]

No, Liston and a couple of others, would have gotten to him.

[evrenb]

If he avoided certain boxers....

[elmersalsa]

I think that the great Rocky Marciano would have had a great chance against the likes of Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson. Those two would have been intriguing matchups against him.

But, the other top contenders like Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams, Sonny Liston, Eddie Machen, and Zora Folley would have beaten him. They would have had the edge in height, size, weight, speed and age advantages.

[Riddick Bowie]

Marciano destroys Patterson, Ingo, Machen, Foxley, and Williams. None of them had the intangibles, ever dug deep, all of them folded in the end. The Rock never folded, and against higher level opponents than the above.

Liston is the only realistic threat, and while he did fold you have to make an allowance for the fact it was against The Greatest at the dizzying peak of his powers. But the nature of his loss isn't encouraging. The indomitable will we associate with Great Fighters didn't appear to be in Liston, whereas it was in Marciano.

[yancey]

Sonny Liston would have overwhelmed Marciano.

[gilgamesh]

He retired in 1956. I don't think he would've finished out the 1950's still undefeated. The fighters would've starting getting tougher, and Rocky would've been getting older.

[goose 5]

He would have never made it to 1960. last bout was in 1955- maybe he fights and wins twice in 1956 but I don't see him going past that year. Rocky versus Patterson in 1956 would have been a good bout.

[elmersalsa]

He would have never made it to 1960. last bout was in 1955- maybe he fights and wins twice in 1956 but I don't see him going past that year. Rocky versus Patterson in 1956 would have been a good bout.

I agree.

[gilgamesh]

He would have never made it to 1960. last bout was in 1955- maybe he fights and wins twice in 1956 but I don't see him going past that year. Rocky versus Patterson in 1956 would have been a good bout.

Yeah him vs Patterson would've probably been an awesome fight I'll bet.

I don't think it's necessarily a case of somebody between 1956 and 1959 would've been way better than him exactly, but his style combined with aging, and just the punishment he took in his fights would've surely caught up to him by the end of the decade no matter how carefully you tried to match him.

[Ezzard]

Marciano destroys Patterson, Ingo, Machen, Foxley, and Williams. None of them had the intangibles, ever dug deep, all of them folded in the end. The Rock never folded, and against higher level opponents than the above.

Liston is the only realistic threat, and while he did fold you have to make an allowance for the fact it was against The Greatest at the dizzying peak of his powers. But the nature of his loss isn't encouraging. The indomitable will we associate with Great Fighters didn't appear to be in Liston, whereas it was in Marciano.

I like this take. In a prime for prime sense I agree. But factor in Rocky's age I think he can win those fights but not destroy them.

I know people like to point to Marciano's lacklustre win over Cockell which was sort of sloppy but many greats see a performance dip when fighting a guy not considered a threat. And just to say I know Cockell was an excellent fighter but his thyroid condition forced him up to a weight that were too much for him.

But yes, prime for prime Marciano cleans up and likely takes Liston too.

[Caractacus]

I had read in Lou Duvas' autobiography A FIGHTING LIFE (2016)
that Marciano and Liston had 'almost" came to blows.
The situation (according to Lou Duva) was that Marcian had his own radio show in Miami,
and went down to Liston's camp to interview him, and Liston(while his hands were being wrapped) had said to him,
"I would have been the one to have removed the Zero's from the right side of your ring record"
and "i would have kicked your Ass"
Marciano tried to ignore it ,but was fuming,
and then said 'someone get me some boxing shoes and trunks and we will settle this matter right here and now" !
During the lull to find some shoes and trunks for Marciano to put on,
Liston's handlers quickly escorted Liston away.

[gilgamesh]

I had read in Lou Duvas' autobiography A FIGHTING LIFE (2016)
that Marciano and Liston had 'almost" came to blows.
The situation (according to Lou Duva) was that Marcian had his own radio show in Miami,
and went down to Liston's camp to interview him, and Liston(while his hands were being wrapped) had said to him,
"I would have been the one to have removed the Zero's from the right side of your ring record"
and "i would have kicked your Ass"
Marciano tried to ignore it ,but was fuming,
and then said 'someone get me some boxing shoes and trunks and we will settle this matter right here and now" !
During the lull to find some shoes and trunks for Marciano to put on,
Liston's handlers quickly escorted Liston away.

Liston would've absolutely kicked Marciano's ass. If there's any truth to the story that Liston's handlers left the situation you describe it's probably because he had a fight coming up that he was gonna get paid for, and there was no sense in fighting Rocky Marciano in a gym for free.

[Caractacus]

Liston was only about 3 inches taller then Marciano.
What fighter ever went to Liston's body ?
Liston did not like being 'roughed-up in close quarters.
He may have folded like a cheap beach-chair.

[Expug]

Listons jab would be Rocky’s undoing. He’d take too much punishment boring in. Sonny’s jab would go right through Rocky’s defense. Rocky had more heart for sure but Liston would be too much.