Eddie Harris
If Marciano would have fought until 1958 vs these opponents, what happens?
1956
vs Floyd Patterson
vs Tommy Jackson
1957
vs Eddie Machen
vs Roy Harris
1958
vs Marty Marhall
vs Sonny Liston
Great question my friend. Marciano was smart and got out whilst he was still on top, however at 33 he may well have had two good years left in him, or he could have gone on a downward slope. I believe that in 1956 Marciano would have beaten Patterson, maybe even knocked him out in round one because although Patterson was faster than Marciano, and skillful, Marciano was a massive puncher and I don’t think Patterson’s chin could have stood up to a suzie q.
Tommy Jackson, I think, would have been another relatively easy KO for Marciano, I’d pick him by KO in about three.
Eddie Machen was a tough, hard punching fighter and he could have taken Marciano the distance, maybe even scored a flash knock down, but Marciano comes through to take a clear decision.
I don’t think Harris and Marshall would cause Marciano many problems and would pick him to dispatch either of them in about six rounds.
Now to Liston. I believe that Liston would have been a match for even the best Marciano, too big, too long a reach and too powerful. A man who was floored and cut up by an aging Jersey Joe Walcott wouldn’t have lasted long with Liston, and 1958 would have been a prime Liston. A Marciano with two more years wear and tear would have even less of a chance, he would be cut up and stopped in about three.
Les McCann & Eddie Harris – Compared To What
