Joe Rogan, the well-known contact sports commentator, recently stirred up debate among boxing fans. On his popular podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, he claimed that a prime Mike Tyson would have easily defeated the undefeated legend Rocky Marciano in a hypothetical matchup.
Rogan's guest, bowhunter and marathon runner Cameron Hanes, highlighted Marciano's incredible work ethic and training routine.
"He was sparring seven days a week, sometimes 30 or 40 rounds a day. He would run 10 miles in the morning and then another five miles at night, and then swim two miles in a lake. He would get up in the morning and do it all over again, and never took days off."
Marciano retired as an undefeated champion in 1956 with an impressive record of 49-0, including 43 knockouts. Even Muhammad Ali, widely regarded as the greatest boxer of all time, called Marciano "the hardest to beat."
Standing at 5'10" and weighing between 188-192 pounds, Marciano would be considered a small heavyweight by today's standards. Yet, he managed to beat seven boxers who weighed over 200 pounds, including a victory over Joe Louis in his prime at Madison Square Garden.
Despite Marciano's impressive credentials, Rogan stood firm in his belief about the outcome of a hypothetical matchup with Tyson.
"Rocky Marciano is great, but Mike Tyson would have run him over like a train to a flock of sheep. It's a different world. Rocky, at his maximum weight, weighed 192 pounds, although he fought seven boxers who weighed more than 200 pounds."
Rogan's argument centered on the physical differences between the two fighters. In his prime, Tyson stood at the same height as Marciano but weighed around 220 pounds, giving him a significant size advantage.
While such hypothetical matchups between fighters from different eras will always spark debate, they serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of these boxing legends. Both Tyson and Marciano left an indelible mark on the sport, each dominating their respective eras in unique and memorable ways.