Rocky Marciano: How Would he Fair Today in the World of Boxing

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By Andrew Hall

Rocky Marciano goes down as the only heavyweight champion to go his whole career without a single loss or draw. As if that were not enough, he also has the highest knockout ratio of any Heavyweight Champion in history. This, of course, gives him tremendous distinction among all the greats but how would the great Rocky Marciano fare against today’s heavyweight crop? How would he do against the Klitschko brothers?

If Rocky Marciano were alive today he would probably be about an inch or two bigger in height and he would probably naturally weigh much more. Before he started training Rocky was known to tip the scales in the 220’s or 230’s. When he got in shape he was able to slim down to 185. If he were alive today we could carefully add 20 pounds to his frame in both instances on account of all the steroids in all the foods we eat.

Not to mention the higher calorie food that people eat today. On top of that, Marciano would without a doubt be into weight training. He would have most likely begun a heavy bench, squat, and dead lift regimen in his high school days playing football for Brockton High! So, without a doubt, Marciano would be about 6’1 or 2, with 225 to 240 pounds of pure muscle on his frame. Most people lack imagination and wish to put Marciano up against today’s fighters as though he would still be the same size. I shudder to think of a Marciano on a regular power lifting regimen.

If Rocky were alive today he would also have the advantage of improved boxing training. He would learn a lot more techniques and be a much more overall better fighter. His power, of course, would still be legendary. He would come into the ring a perfect 28-0- with 25 knockouts. He would glare menacingly over at Klitschko and the effect of the stare would be palpable throughout the jam packed stadium.

Marciano would start off using his jab. He would stay low, and make the bigger man reach down with his punches. His jab would land on the arms of the bigger man, but he would be able to make Klitschko miss his jab as well. The fight would be a matter of Marciano forcing the bigger man to throw out of his comfort zone. I doubt it would take Marciano more than 7 or 8 rounds to get him tired. From that point on, Marciano would give a tremendous beat down.

People love to say that Marciano would do poorly in today’s heavyweight climate. They love to say he would be too small. They overlook the fact that if Rocky was born in this era he would be a much improved fighter and would be significantly bigger. Fighting today would afford him the ability to have more control over his cuts. He would have a better more tighter defense. Marciano would make mince meat of today’s crop of heavyweight champions. This is not to say that I don’t have respect for the Klitschko brothers because do. I think any heavyweight though, who would have to go up against a modern day Marciano with a squatting regimen would come up short.