Muhhamad Ali(74) vs Prime Rocky Marciano

[Slimey Limey]

Marciano wasn't dumb like Foreman, and didn't gas after a few rounds. He would probably beat Ali much like Frazier did the first time. The constant pressure and never ending barrage of punches would wear Ali out and win Marciano a UD after a convincing finish which leaves Ali hurt badly.

[Caesar]

WOW.
Ali kills him, all day and every day. Marciano was tough as nails, but he was way too easy to hit, Ali would have shredded his face to pieces. Rocky probably would manage to **** a couple of shots when he gets inside, but Ali would eventually stop him.

i agree, ali was taller then rocky so it seems to be very true

[Sugarj]

I agree with Right Hand that the 74 Ali was as good as Ali ever was in the 70s.

It is a tough fight for Ali, no doubt. I favour him by decision or a late rounds cut stoppage. I think that he'd use the approach he used in Frazer 2 (1974) in which he danced just about every round and tied up well in close whilst throwing lots of combinations.

I dont think ropeadope would be a good idea, Marciano would keep grinding away at forearms, hips, testicles, kidneys, shoulders......whatever was in range. He'd do this for 15 rounds too. Ali's best strategy would be to be mobile and fight at a distance.

[Ryn0]

Why not, he stopped Louis. An aging Louis yes but he could do the same to a younger Louis. Rocky was a beast!

Louis chin was his weakest attribute IMO, Alis doesn't have that problem...

I'd say the fight lasts the full 15 (assuming its a 15 rounds fight) with Ali winning a clear cut decision in a entertaining, fast paced fight

[princemanspoper]

Ali of 1966 vs Marciano of 1951 is quite possibly the greatest heavyweight fight of all time.Ali of 74 vs Marciano of that year is a bruising,somewhat dull victory for ali.I disagree that ali was at his best in 1974,He beat Frazier and Foreman in two clear decisive victories but his reseme and run through 1972 was alot more impressive.He really should have gotten his rematch around that period

[Sugarj]

Aye 72 was a good year for Ali too, looked superb against Quarry!

[Stoppage]

Ali in '74 wouldn't be able to beat a prime Marciano. Marciano had very good stamina and would hunt down Ali like Frazier did and never give up punching. I don't know if it would be KO/TKO, but I can definetly see a UD.

[boxingbuff]

The Ali who fought Foreman vs a prime Marciano.

Who wins?

I'm glad you said the Ali who fought Forman.Because this was an Ali who was in the best shape he could be at 32 years old.Ali trained real hard for Forman,unlike "many" other fights after his 3 1/2 year lay-off.

Lets see,Ali had 30 pounds on Rocky and alot faster foot and hand speed.Ali had danced all 12 rounds against Norton in the rematch in September of 1973,and all 12 rounds against Frazier in January of 1974.But he couldn't dance against Forman because it was a small 16 foot ring! And the canvas was sopht and padded,and Ali couldn't dance like he planned to and trained too.So in a 20 foot ring,with a normal canvas he would have been able to dance against Forman and Marciano!

So Ali would have been able to out point Rocky by dancing almost every round,or by fighting him flat footed.Ali's great heart and chin would enable him to fight flat footed.And also his 30 pound advantage in weight,and tying him up in the clinches.

The key to the fight would be Ali coming into the fight in top condition!

I see Ali of 1974 winning a UD 10 rounds to 5.

[redxl7]

Well, I personally feel that this would go to Marciano, he had too much stamina and was too smart to fall for any sort of rope-a-dope tactic from Ali. Ali would definitely outpoint Marciano in the early rounds but once the Rock got in enough hard shots Ali would go down probably in the really late rounds. And now I offer you a quote from the great Smokin' Joe Frazier weighing in on this fantasy fight.

"Joe Louis is the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. Rocky Marciano is second only to Louis. Where do I rate Ali? Somewhere below me. I beat him, and if I could beat him, no doubt Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano could have beaten him."
-- Joe Frazier

[right_hand_lead]

Ali in '74 wouldn't be able to beat a prime Marciano. Marciano had very good stamina and would hunt down Ali like Frazier did and never give up punching. I don't know if it would be KO/TKO, but I can definetly see a UD.

Logically and historically, a decision win for Marciano does not seem to make sense.

Frazier put more pressure on Ali than Rocky would.

Let's not forgot that heart has its limits...Marciano had the shortest reach in HW history at 68" and would be dwarfed by Ali in virtually every way..height, reach, weight, etc.

The only way I see Marciano winning is by KO, and no man was ever able to do that, so take a wild guess.