Prime Joe Louis vs Rocky Marciano?

37 was ancient back in 1951. Contemporary writers, guys who had watched Louis' entire career first hand, were emphatic in noting what was missing toward the end. A prime Louis demolishes Marciano.

 

Most likely Louis but either way. Louis was the #1 or #2 heavy ever, but he was terribly inconsistent and slow-starting. If the Louis who fought Schmeling in the first fight, Braddock or Galento showed up...

 

Most will say Louis but he always seemed like a methodical, stalker great power to me. Most of his fights I've seen it almost seems like his opponents play right along into his style.
I think Marciano would make it an ugly , mauling type of fight, and I think it would give Louis a lot of trouble.

Louis had over 60 fights, so he had plenty of mileage, but I've always found it interesting how people always make it sound like the old timers were such better fighters than their modern counterparts, but in reality the old timers were always washed up by their mid 30s and considered ancient, while modern fighters can still fight at high levels at similar ages

 

Marciano was the type to eventually find a way in every fight. Whether it be wearing his opponent down or finding the target with that sledgehammer right like he did Walcott. I think this fight would’ve been more competitive but Rocky would take Louis out late. Rock would’ve just wore Louis the **** out. Probably around 10th or 11th. That O was going nowhere.

 

The same reason Tom Brady was able to play top level football until he was 45. Sports evolve.

There are many factors in play here.
Overall better living conditions, the development of health care and nutrition science applied to boxing, improved physical training and conditioning, and of course let's not forget the apparition of "improvement aids" like peds, etc. Also MORE CAREFULLY MANAGED CAREERS trying to preserve and extend a fighter's career.

All that allows the average boxer a longer shelf life nowadays.

But back in the 50s somebody like Louis, figting in his late 30s was ancient.

Anyway if it is Prime Louis he beats Marciano by UD.

 

Marciano was always stronger than Joe. In their 1951 fight Rocky pushed Joe all over the ring. Pushed him to the ropes repeatedly. He would do the same with 1938 Louis. But then Joe's dynamite power and quick hands in his prime would make this fight a heart stopper. As good a contest as 1971 Frazier-Ali and maybe even better. No telling who would win. Both guys could paralyze a foe with either hand. I'd set the odds at 7-5 Louis to win. There'd be plenty of action in the ring and with the bookmakers.

 

Louis by brutal knockout in the 6th. Rocky will bravely try to bore in with his low crouch to land his devastating hooks and overhands but Louis will counter punch him with tighter punches each time.
The jab will bust up Rocky's face like it did in 1951, but unlike that fight, Louis will have actual power in his right hand for when Rocky does close the distance. And if the 1951 Louis could make him miss and make him look silly, oh boy will he be in trouble with a Louis whose legs aren't shot.

Marciano is outgunned here. His clumsy mauling-trading style is pure suicide against the greatest puncher of all time.
Any version of Louis between 1934 and 1947 is a heavy favorite.

 

I feel like Louis has a good chance of taking Rocky out of there early, especially if it's the Louis of Schmeling II. Defensively sound, and out for blood. I don't see the slow starting Rocky doing too well, considering he was hurt by Moore and Walcott early.

 

In his career, Joe Louis lost fights only when the opponent was really better ("better" can also mean strategically better). So the question arises whether peak Marciano is really better than peak Louis, IMHO - it is not.

 

Would that not be down to the amount of fights the old timers participated in?

 

Louis via tko, 9rds.

 

Terribly inconsistent?
He lost 3 fights out of 69.One when he was pre prime and over confident ,1 when he was coming back after a 2 years retirement,1 when he was 37, washed up and had no business in the ring. Care to speculate how Marciano who retired at 32 would have fared had he fought for another 5years?
Facing at 37 the following?
Patterson
Johansson
Valdes
Liston
Folley
Machen
DeJohn
And that's not including Louis' 2 1/2year's absence from the ring during WW2, or the 2 years of official retirement !

Would Marciano still be undefeated, having "found away to win" those 7 fights ,or would he have gone down to defeat before the hands of at least 1 of these young lions?

 

Louis beats the hell out of Rocky prime for prime. Louis by KO befor 10

 

They asked Rocky's trainer...the great Charlie Goldman..."How would Rocky have done against a prime Joe Louis?"...Goldman said..."The fight would have been over...quicker!" The reporter asked him why?....Goldman said: "Because you don't COME AT Rocky Marciano!"