Hello sir, great question as usual.
My friend, this would have been a very good fight, and although people say that old time fighters aren't that good and are flat-footed, even though that could be true, I believe Jack Johnson would be a great threat to Rocky Marciano. Jack Johnson was an excellent boxer with tremendous counterpunching skills and very good defense as well. He was very well conditioned and fought a lot of 20 round fights. Rocky Marciano was also very well conditioned and I believe that he could also fight 20 round fights if he had to. Of course, that era was over, and he fought 15 round fights, but he never seemed to get tired. A lot of people say that Marciano's competition was terrible and the fighters he beat were passed prime. He beat the likes of Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles, and Archie Moore, and the only one truly passed it was Joe Louis. Age doesn't always determine prime, and Walcott, Charles, and Moore were all very good opponents even in their 30's. Although I'm usually a fan of technically sound boxers, I've started to become more of a fan of Marciano now because he shows so much heart and determination every fight, and explosive punching power.
Fight time: Jack Johnson will come out moving and jabbing with his great movement and defense he always has had. Rocky Marciano will keep coming forward. If Jack Johnson could get dropped by Stanley Ketchel, I believe he wouldn't be able to handle the great punching power of Marciano. He will get dropped for sure in my opinion. Like I said, Johnson boxing, Marciano trying to slug it out and swarm Johnson. Finally, in around the 13th round of a boxer-swarmer type fight, Marciano lands his signature Suzie Q punch that puts Johnson down. He'll get back up, but Marciano's swarming style will again succeed for him. Johnson will then be taking too much punishment, and the referee will call a halt to the fight.
Winner: Rocky Marciano by TKO in Round 13!
Thanks for the question and yes this would be a great fight for sure, because styles make fights.
The rules were different in the era but anyhow;
Tale of the tape;
Jack Johnson had a reach and height advantage and a slight weight advantage in his prime. Johnson had a solid chin, stamina and was an intelligent outside boxer with little power.
Rocky Marciano had power, stamina, a solid chin and was great at putting pressure on his opponent.
I say Jack Johnson UD but it may be close because Rocky Marciano beat some of the most technically sound boxers ever by constantly putting pressure on them.
The rule was a bit different between the two era so it is hard to predict but I think either Jack "The Galveston Giant" Johnson outbox Rocky "The Brockton Blockbuster" Marciano and win a 15 round decision. A possible outcome since Jersey Joe Walcott did outbox Rocky for 12.5 round and Jack Johnson was considered by many to be a better boxer than Jersey Joe Walcott. Another very probable outcome is that Rocky come from behind to land his "suzy Q" and end the fight abruptly like he did against Jersey Joe. Too may variables to say for sure but if it happen today, one thing for sure is I would go out of my way to see it.
Jack Johnson Strong, Faster and can Counter punch hard
Rocky Marciano Heart of a lion , and Chin
Jack Johnson by KO in round 5
johnson to finish what walcott started. the galveston giant by wide ud over 15 or 50.
another MISMATCH sir!
jack Johnson would have been beat from pillar to post and finally taught some respect!
Looking forward to some great answers.
