If Rocky Marciano hadn't retired in 1955?

Question

but had continued boxing how long would it have been before he was beaten and who would have beaten him?

Floyd Patterson? Sonny Liston and Cleveland Wiliams were also around then.

Answer 1

Some how I could see Archie Moore negotiating a rematch with Marciano.  Moore, for all his greatness, would have been KO'd again.  The fight would have gone about the same distance with Rocky coming from behind in the late rounds to win by KO between rounds 8--10.  

Floyd would have gotten his shot at the title.  However, as overrated as he is, he would have been exposed by Marciano.  Floyd is often given credit for being the fastest or second fastest champion(hand speed.  No one argues that Ali was clearly the fastest with foot work.  He has proven that he is also faster than Floyd with the hands as well).  

One thing people forget is that Floyd wasn't too Mobile where he would be able to escape Rocky for very long.  The difference between Floyd and the others who gave Rocky a go at it, is that Floyd cant take it the way they could.   Rocky could hurt Ezzard Charles but Ez could dish out his share of punishment as well.   Moore could dish it out and so could Jersey Joe.   Floyd just cant put the hurt on Rocky, or take it, as well as the others.   He's ranked because we is the first to regain the title but look at the circumstances and you see how truly insignificant that accomplishment really is.

Floyd can "peck-peck-peck" but he cant really  "hurt-hurt-hurt",  not the way Ez, Joe and Archie could.        

Marciano by KO in 3

Cleveland, before he got shot, could give Rocky all kinds of trouble.  This fight could go either way.  Big Cat would score a knockdown early but Rocky would survive.  He might have enough to earn a decision or he would be forced to go for the KO.  

It would seem that Sonny could blow Rocky out of the ring.  He's a good 218 to Rocky's 188.  One thing to note about Sonny is that he was very slow.   I think George Forman would have beaten Rocky because of the styles.    I am not so sure about Sonny.  

Sonny had the jab to keep Rocky honest.  Im not sure he had the stamina in the late rounds.   George didnt have it either but he was a lot more destructive in the early rounds than Sonny was.   Rocky wasn't as easy to his as some think.  He sustained most of his damage in the late rounds of his fights.  

This could also go either way.  Sonny tames Rocky with the jab early and lands a few good shots late to stop it.   OR   Rocky survives the early going.  Sonny isn't a speed demon.  He has Larry Holmes' jab and Earnie Shaver's speed.  Rocky eats a few early but figures out how to avoid them.   He didnt learn losing very well.   He could very well find a way around the jab and test Sonny's chin.  

I give the every slight edge to Marciano.  Sonny could blow him away early but I think Rocky would find a way to survive the early going.   Sonny wasn't as busy as Forman.  60% says Rocky stops him late.

There is the chance the powers that be would not allow that fight to happen.   Also,  Ingo would get his shot at some point and Rocky would KO him in 6.  

Then he would retire 53-0 (46 KOs).  All of those fights would not happen but Old Archie just might go the distance.

Answer 2

Thumbs up to galactus, I agreed with most of it, but I always favored Liston over Marciano.  Rocky would have been aging and Liston peaking when they met, and Marciano would have been physically over matched.  It would have been a great fight, but I think Liston would have put that fist loss on Marciano's record.  Cleveland Williams lacked the destructive power of Liston, and the intimidation factor was a lot less with Williams.  Liston would have ended Marciano's unbeaten streak unless Rocky got lucky and landed one of those bombs.  The combination of youth and power weight heavily in favor of Liston against the aging Marciano.

Answer 3

Rocky talked about a comeback before his death, but after spending a little time in the gym he knew it was best to stay retired.  If he had stayed on for "one more," he probably would have fought and kayoed Patterson.  I don't think Rocky would have ducked Liston and Williams to get to Ingo, and if Floyd had not been around I don't think Ingo would have wanted anything to do with either one of them.  At his age, Rocky would have had a hard time with either Liston or Williams, particularly Liston.  Sonny had a punch and a granite chin to go with it.  Big Cat had the punch but not the chin.

I don't think Sonny was less destructive than Foreman in the early rounds.  The difference was that Sonny's opponents often ran from him (Machen was one of those).  If they didn't  he destroyed them (Patterson).  Rocky had the chin that Floyd lacked and was not a runner.  Rocky would not have been frozen with fear as Floyd was when he fought Sonny and would have had a game plan to fight Liston.  But Rocky was past his prime and would not have been able to deal with Sonny at the time they could have met.

I think the real question here is why Patterson got to fight Moore for the title after Rocky retired.  Liston and Williams were around and either would have destroyed either Floyd or Archie.  

Rocky retired when he should have.  He had nothing to prove and it would have deprived us of his legacy if he fought too long and lost a fight he might well have won in his prime.