Comparing two former world champions, Rocky ‘Brockton Blockbuster’ Marciano and Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes. Marciano finished his career in September of 1955 in his sixth and final defense at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, improving his record to 49-0 with 43 knockouts.
His opponent was light heavyweight champion knockout artist Archie ‘Old Mongoose’ Moore, 149-19-8 with 121 knockouts. Marciano came off the canvas in the second round for a count of 2 from Referee Harry Kessler.
Moore was officially knocked down after this 4 times, twice in the sixth, once in the eighth and counted out in the ninth at 1:19 of the round.
Marciano’s record would be equaled by Denmark’s Super Brian Nielsen stopping former world champion Terrible Tim Witherspoon, 46-8, in four rounds in April of 1999. That’s 43 years since Marciano retired. In his next fight he lost to Dicky Ryan, 47-4, in the tenth round.
In September of 1985 former 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist and current light heavyweight champion Michael ‘Jinx’ Spinks, 27-0, defeated heavyweight champion Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes, 48-0, at 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 bout, Holmes remarked, ‘Marciano couldn’t wear my jockstrap!’ Some called it a racist remark. Why didn’t Holmes give Spinks, who defeated him, credit for it as a big mistake on his part? He was disappointed he didn’t equal Marciano’s 49-0 record that Nielson had matched.
Holmes, 65-5, lost to Nielsen, 31-0, in January of 1997 by split decision in Denmark. Holmes ended his career at 69-6 with 44 knockouts.
In comparing Marciano’s hard hitting style at 5:10 ½ to the boxing style of Holmes at 6:03 you have to remember Marciano would beat on your arms for 5 or 6 rounds until you realized as his opponent you had trouble holding them up.
Holmes on the other hand had a very effective jab. Most of the time he held it out, rarely being warned by the referee it wasn’t legal.
The shorter Marciano’s style would come in low-landing uppercuts with his right hand. Would he get under the jab and land his right uppercut on the elbow of Holmes, possibly injuring it?
Would Holmes jab open up cuts on the face of Marciano the way former champion Ezzard ‘The Cincinnati Cobra’ Charles did 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’s hear your comments on who would win between Marciano and Holmes at the prime of their careers.
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