Louis was better than Marciano but Marciano's constant pressure and high output would work against Conn better than Louis' clinical approach. Conn would do well early but his punch would not stop Rocky, thus he gets chopped down
Yeah have to go with Ugo and Cdogg on this one.......Louis waited too long but Rocky wouldn't. Conn gets the LaStarza treatment.
Cosign with the group. Conn does well early on, but Marciano's pressure and power wears him down and gets to him.
I'll be the odd man out then, & take Conn (I would also have taken Tunney over Marciano at Heavy). One thing Louis had Marciano didn't (& there were a lot of things) was excellent speed, & excellent timing. A big myth is that Conn was way out in front against Louis when he was KO'd. In fact, it was much closer than that. The reason is Louis was getting his licks in, on the back of handspeed, timing, & precision. It was a close fight --- Louis was winning rounds, if not quite the fight. Conn was right there, but his own phenomenal (& it was, hence the nickname) speed of hand & foot were working wonders, & his high guard & textbook defensive approach worked a treat against a combination-puncher. Conn was teak-tough, & his rapier jab would be a fine countenance to Marciano's weaving. IMO, Conn's jab surpasses Walcott's. I see Conn moving in & out with greater mobility than an aged Walcott, & his under-rated toughness would see him through --- at least, in a 12-rounder. Won't be popular, but this is a fight I could see making some money on. Marciano would be a likely prohibitive favourite, & I don't see it. Of course, the danger would always be there.
If you don't have a punch that Marciano respects and you are smaller than him, forget it... he is coming after you and he will get you Tunney would get annihlated by Rocky Marciano, flat out butchered Conn punched about as hard as my sister and was small, even for a Light Heavyweight
Conn would be at significant risk, but its under-analysing to just say Marciano wins because he keeps coming. I have far fewer doubts Tunney outclasses Marciano. Hes a flat-out better fighter, not to mention a smarter one.
Ramonza, my friend, I disagree vehemently with you about Tunney... he was a smart fighter for 1925 and for an oh-so-ready-to-be-taken Jack Dempsey... he's easily one of the most overrated fighters who ever lived... He'd have his hands full with John Henry Lewis, never mind Joe Louis... and a relentless puncher like Marciano would have beaten him into mush Conn had enough trouble keeping Tony Zale off of him, Marciano would east him
Yet he did so well against Joe Louis...doesn't add up like that in Boxing all the time, does it? We will just have to call it a day on Tunney. I think the world of him as a boxer. Marciano just was not in his class at all, IMO.
Louis fought at a measured, even slow, pace. He did not pressure Conn... Conn, loving that type of thing naturally, danced around the way he did at his best Marciano would provide no such luxury... all the dancing in the world would not prevent him from reaching Conn... at some point Conn would have to get Marciano off of him with his punches... considering he had trouble keeping the naturally smaller Tony Zale off of him this way, I'd say it's a safe bet that he hasn't a chance in hell of doing that with Marciano... styles... If Louis had possessed Marciano's style, Conn would not have seen the 6th round I will never convince you on Tunney, sadly:blackcloud: ... but still, I like you:truce:
Well, you'll certainly have the support of the board, so we'll let it lie I guess. I do think Conn would be great beting value here. Louis could do an awful lot of things Marciano couldn't, & he hurt Conn several times without finishing him. Marciano isn't gonna walk through the guy with the first heavy shot he lands. Tunney is great...& so are you, CDogg. Tip of the cap.
