Rocky Marciano's Defense(video)

**OZZ** · Posted On: 9/11/2008 9:48am

Originally Posted by Quija

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D7d6PgfcCw

Here's a more common one of Mike Tyson, but it's my favorite Tyson highlight video because it actually shows some of his defensive movements. They are similar to Marciano's, but when Tyson did it it seems like he has to make himself do it, whereas Marciano seemed more relaxed, but that does speak highly of Tyson's reflexes. Marciano is commonly rated in people's top 3 boxers list, along with Ali and Joe Louis. I think Mike Tyson is very commonly underrated.

In the early years Tyson's defensive work was second to none. He was great at the bob and weave type of defense we see here. But after the championship was his and his personal life started to deteriorate, he threw out the defensive work and decided he was bad enough he didn't need to set his opponent up before knocking him out.
I think Tyson is underrated too. He could have been one of the best ever.

**Scott Larson** · Posted On: 9/11/2008 10:32am

Yes, Mike Tyson was amazing.

Too bad he went from "The Baddest Man on the Planet" to the saddest man on the planet.

**theword** · Posted On: 9/14/2008 1:08pm

As long as were posting HL reels, I enjoy this (rather long) one of 'Sugar' Ray Leonard:

YouTube - Sugar Ray Leonard Highlight

Unless were posting HL reels that have to do with defense...in which case I fail.

**Tonuzaba** · Posted On: 9/14/2008 1:28pm

Originally Posted by theword

As long as were posting HL reels...

We're actually not posting any videos.

You didn't do anything wrong, it's just that this thread is about discussing a video on Rocky Marciano's defense delicacies.

Bullshido has a video thread, however, ready for quality stuff like a Sugar Ray HL truly is.

**Einstein McFly** · Posted On: 9/15/2008 3:13pm

Thanks for posting that vid. It's always nice to see more of Rocky. However, (and I don't mean to be a buzz kill), but all those vids tell me is that he didn't get hit with every punch thrown at him. If you've seen pics or interviews after his fights you know he got hit A LOT. It's not for guys like me to be too critical, but he bends at the waist an awful lot and feints seemed to work pretty well against him. The comparison with Tyson is a little much IMO because Tyson's defense was a lot tighter and more technical than Marciano's. I suspect that if he wanted to he could have tightened up his defense because he did have good timing and reflexes etc, but I think he wanted to put as much effort as he could into offense and so didn't worry about defense they way Moore or Pep or Sweet Pea did. It just wasn't a big part of his game.

**hpr** · Posted On: 9/15/2008 3:21pm

Heh. Seems that Sugar Ray Leonard had the deadly chainpunching down to a tee. Although he wasn't necessarily moving forward while doing it.

**Yrkoon9** · Posted On: 9/15/2008 5:02pm

I always loved watching Marciano's fights. Sluggin it the **** out! The only criticism is that he bends at the waist instead of at the knees.

**Snake Plissken** · Posted On: 9/15/2008 5:34pm

Originally Posted by Yrkoon9

I always loved watching Marciano's fights. Sluggin it the **** out! The only criticism is that he bends at the waist instead of at the knees.

I had always heard that since he was considered a "small" heavyweight he was able to get away with this.

Originally Posted by OZZ

In the early years Tyson's defensive work was second to none. He was great at the bob and weave type of defense we see here. But after the championship was his and his personal life started to deteriorate, he threw out the defensive work and decided he was bad enough he didn't need to set his opponent up before knocking him out.
I think Tyson is underrated too. He could have been one of the best ever.

A good portion of Tyson's defensive abilities was his usage of the Gene Fullmer/ George Foreman cross-arm defense that he picked up from watching the old films at D'Amatos.

**WordMerchant** · Posted On: 9/15/2008 6:19pm

Im suprised at the lack of mention of Jack Dempsey. Seems to be relativley the same techniques that made him so great. Go in low, roll around, and them slam a hooks and uppercuts. Dempsey was pretty light in his early career as well. Around 185 when he fought Willard I do believe.

You can tell Marciano must've been a big Dempsey fan. Its kinda sad that like, 30 years later when Rocky was fighting pro. Noone even notices the similarities between the two.