Compare two former world champions, Rocky ‘Brockton Blockbuster’ Marciano and Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes. Marciano completed his career in September 1955 in his sixth and final defense at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, and improved his record to 49-0 by 43 knockouts.
His opponent was a light heavyweight champion knockout artist Archie ‘Old Mongoose’ Moore, 149-19-8 with 121 knockouts. Marciano came in the second round of the canvas for a score of 2 from referee Harry Kessler.
Moore was officially knocked off after this four times, twice in sixth place, once in the eighth and counted in ninth place at 1:19 of the round.
The record of Marciano would be equal to Denmark’s Super Brian Nielsen who stopped former world champion Tim Witherspoon, 46-8, in four rounds in April 1999. It’s been 43 years since Marciano retired. In his next fight, he lost in the tenth round against Dicky Ryan, 47-4.
In September of 1985, the former 1976 Olympic gold medal and current lightweight champion Michael ‘Jinx’ Spinks, 27-0, defeated heavyweight champion Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes, 48-0, in the Riviera Hotel & Casino, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. Scores were 143-142 twice and 145-142. Spinks by winning the fifteenth and final round won the title.
After the attack, Holmes noted: “Marciano couldn’t wear my Jockstrap!” Some call it a racist remark. Why didn’t Holmes, who defeated him, gave it as a big mistake on his part? He was disappointed that he was not equal to Marciano’s 49-0 record that was nielson.
Holmes, 65-5, lost to Nielsen, 31-0 in January 1997, by a split decision in Denmark. Holmes finished his career at 69-6 with 44 knockouts.
In comparing Marciano’s hard hitting style at 05:10 with the boxing style of Holmes at 06:03, remember that Marciano would beat 5 or 6 rounds on your arms until you realized that his opponent had trouble stopping them.
Holmes, on the other hand, had a very effective stitch. Most of the time he held it out and rarely warned by the referee that it was not legal.
The shorter Marciano’s style would come with his right hand in low countries heads. Would he get under the sample and end up his right hill on the elbow of Holmes and possibly injure it?
Would Holmes open Jab cuts on Marciano’s face like former champion Ezzard ‘did the Cincinnati Cobra’ Charles before Marciano stopped him in the next round?
Both Marciano and Holmes are usually in the second half of the top ten of all time.
Let us hear your comments about who would win between Marciano and Holmes in the forefront of their careers.