His records still stand today---49-0 43 ko's, only heavyweight to retire un-defeated.....I am sure someday it may be broken, but give the guy some credit...................................................................
2006-12-27 05:10:42 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Boxing
I also beleive Ali was good, Marciano was the GREATEST..............
2006-12-27 05:22:25 · update #1
Good question sir as you cannot take away Rocky Marciano's place as an all time great and the only undefeated heavyweight champion. Romeo is incorrect in his statement that he would not fight the best black fighters of the time of his winning the title and defending it as he beat Walcott twice, Ezzard Charles twice and Archie Moore who were the best black fighters at that time. Nino Valdez came along at the end of Marciano's career and got beat before getting a chance anyway. LaStarza was a highly ranked contender so Marciano fought the best men of his era and 4 of his 6 title defenses were against the best black fighters at that time. Had he continued fighting he would have faced Patterson who he would have beaten in my opinion, Tommy Jackson who he would have beaten to a pulp and Ingemar Johannson who he would have flattened. The people who say he didn't fight the best opponents are clearly wrong as he beat the best of his time.
2006-12-27 07:54:48 · answer #1 · answered by toughguy2 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think what you are seeing is the freedom of opinion. Many people like Ali better becasue he definitely had charisma. People liked that about him. Rocky' record does speak for itself. But what also needs to be addressed is when he beat Joe Louis, Louis age 37 and Rocky was age 28.
Consider this... "Louis retired in 1949, still the undefeated heavyweight champ. Succumbing to financial pressures and government debts, Louis was forced back into the ring. In 1950, he attempted to recapture his title in a bout against Ezzard Charles. However, in a points decision, Louis was handed a loss. Not ready to accept defeat, he again tried his hand in 1951 against Rocky Marciano. During this unsuccessful return to the ring, Marciano knocked Louis through the ropes in the 8th round. This was Joe Louis' final time in the ring. He had earned $5 million in his illustrious boxing career. But at 37, Joe Louis had not a single cent to show for it. To support himself, Louis decided to make a living as a Las Vegas casino host" (from http://www.cmgworldwide.com/sports/louis/bio.htm)
Why do so many people understimate what he did?
1. Well it was done before he did it by Joe Louis.
2. We have boxers right now who are undefeated such as Nicolai Valuev, 43-0 (age 32), current WBA heavyweight champion - would he be considered great one day?
3. Eras make for greatness, in some people eyes. It could be argued that Ali, Frazier, etc fought during a time when most fight historians considered the Heavyweight division to be the deepest and most talented ever.
Rocky did his thing. Please don't get me wrong. But sometimes you may need to speak with older men who could actaully give you a first hand account of his talent.
2006-12-27 17:46:22 · answer #2 · answered by Asaph23 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it may be that the HW division wasn't considered to be that strong during that era, and many considered him to be just a brawler and very ugly to watch. I personally enjoyed watching his fights.
BTW Asaph23, Joe Louis didn't retire undefeated in 1949. He lost to Max Schmeling by a 12th round KO on 6-19-1936 before he even captured the title.
2006-12-28 03:46:01 · answer #3 · answered by dudeman612 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I hate to say it, but it is kinda obvious. There are alot of closet racists on this forum. Look how they demean the russian hw champions.
Marciano was one of the best, beating Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles twice. Better than Ali imo. Nobody can deny this.
2006-12-27 13:15:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Yeah he certainly deserves credit for what he accomplised. Unfortunately for him most of the big name fighters he beat were coming to the end of there careers so wern't at there best when they fought him, and because of this he isent rated by many people as highly as he should be. None of this was his fault though he could only beat the people put in front of him and as far as i know he never ducked a fight. So as the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated he certainly deserves alot of respect.
2006-12-27 15:12:23 · answer #5 · answered by baz75 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Everyone wants to retire undefeated so they are probably jealous. He beat an old Louis so he wouldn't get much credit there. That might be the only other reason. In my opinion he was a great champion.
2006-12-27 17:38:29 · answer #6 · answered by gman 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
A true champion. He would be welcome as an honorary member of the "slavic brotherhood" if he was alive today. Why some people do not want to give this man the credit he deserves is beyond me. They are just hateful lonely people. I cannot understand who would dislike Marciano.
2006-12-28 06:13:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
You know I never like to take away someones greatness the problem that most people have with Marcianos record is that he did not fight the top black fighters of his time and in order to be the best you have to beat the best one other thing he is the only heavy weight champion to retire undefeated not the only heavy weight to retire undefeated there is a difference
2006-12-27 15:15:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Marciano was a young man beating old, or average fighters, that's why he was undefeated.
Technically, he was slow, flatfooted, and really just an average fighter. Comparing him to a wizard like Ali is like comparing a college football team to the NFL.
If I fought guys I knew I could beat, I'd be undefeated, too.
2006-12-27 15:45:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
He retired undefeated great champ nothing more to be said.
2006-12-28 11:02:40 · answer #10 · answered by stu 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋