Marciano’s Opponents “The Bigger They Fall!”

Many comments over the years said, “Today, Marciano couldn’t beat opponents due to the size of the fighters!”

At 5’10 ½, I went to BoxRec, where I found his opponent’s height, and I will give you the results in this article.

Anyone 6’0” and over, I will note. I just tried it and found that 19 of his opponents were taller than Rocky, with five shorter. Only 24 shown.

Let’s take a look at some of the opponents in looking at his 49-0 record with 43 stoppages.

In his final fight, he knocked out light heavyweight knockout king Archie “Old Mongoose” Moore, who was 5’11” with a 149-18-8 record at the time.

UK’s Don Cockell, who was 5’11” with a 66-11-1 record, stopped in 9 rounds.

Former world champion Ezzard “The Cincinnati Cobra,” who was 6’0” with an 85-11-1 record, was decisioned and knocked out in 8.

Roland LaStarza who was 6’0” whom he decisioned and later as champ stopped in 11. He was 37-0 and 53-3.

“Jersey” Joe Walcott who was 6’0” whose title Marciano took and defended against in their next fight knocking him out in 13 and 1 round.

Harry “Kid” Matthews, who was 5’11” with an 81-3-5, was knocked out in 2 rounds.

Bernie Reynolds, who was 6’0 ½”, 52-9-1, knocked out in 3. Italy’s Gino Buonvino, who was 6’0”, 24-14-8, knocked out in 2 and stopped in 10.

Lee “Battling Bartender” Savold, who was 6’1”, 104-15-4, stopped after six rounds.

Former champion Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis, who was 6’1 ½ “, 66-2, stopped in 8.

Rex Layne, who was 6’1”, 34-1-1, knocked out in 6. Johnny Shkor, who was 6’4 ½”, 32-18-2, stopped in 6.

Eldridge Eatman, who was 5’11”, 22-20-5, stopped in 3.

Carmine Vingo, who was 6’0”, 16-1, was knocked out in 6 and, unfortunately, passed away from this bout.

Pete Louthis, who was 5:11 ½, 32-13-5, was knocked out in 3. Jimmy Evans, 6’0 ½, 20-7, stopped in 3.

Gilley Ferron, 6’2”, 4-10, stopped in 2. James Patrick Connolly, 6’5”, 8-5, stopped in 1.