Ali overated??? i dont think so...

[ricecrispi]

ive never heard ali say that about 10th round. he said he was suprised at how much Joe had left, which was disconcerting for him.

Ali was later quoted that he had been ready to quit if Joe had not.
Ali fainted at the end of the fight and was carried out.

Ali was quoted saying his corner in effect he felt like he was dying and wanted to quit.

I can't find a source for it but it's out there.

The first one is basically word for word.
I can't remember the exact quote on the second on during the 10th round.

[splhcb]

Hammer and the Knife

ali vs. marciano would be almost a carbon copy of his fights with frazier, with ali coming out on top everytime by decision. i dont think he can ko marciano but he could stop him on cuts.

Comments above coming from a knowledgeble smart fight fan. Marciano and Frazier had very similar styles. The most glaring difference was Rocky cut, as most white fighters tend to do. With Ali's superior reach, stamina / endurance, not to mention his height, weight and hand speed advantage, Marciano would have his plate full.

It's extrememly unlikely Rocky would be able to trap Ali in a corner and pummel away. And even for the sake of arguement, let's say that he did. Ali could absorb so much punishment, I seriously doubt he would be knocked out.

I see a confrontation such as this ending with a stoppage (on cuts - Marciano NOT Ali) or a decision on point for Muhammad Ali.
Rocky's style was just a little too predictable. You don't think for one second Ali wouldn't capitalize on that?

Final note; Ali fought similar fighters in terms of Marciano's style and power (i.e. Joe Frazier, Ernie Shavers, Sonny Liston)yet I cannot think of one fighter Rocky ever faced that was a proto-type of Muhammad Ali. At least non that could absorb punishment to that level.

Mike White

[Easy-E]

Comments above coming from a knowledgeble smart fight fan. Marciano and Frazier had very similar styles. The most glaring difference was Rocky cut, as most white fighters tend to do. With Ali's superior reach, stamina / endurance, not to mention his height, weight and hand speed advantage, Marciano would have his plate full.

It's extrememly unlikely Rocky would be able to trap Ali in a corner and pummel away. And even for the sake of arguement, let's say that he did. Ali could absorb so much punishment, I seriously doubt he would be knocked out.

I see a confrontation such as this ending with a stoppage (on cuts - Marciano NOT Ali) or a decision on point for Muhammad Ali.
Rocky's style was just a little too predictable. You don't think for one second Ali wouldn't capitalize on that?

Final note; Ali fought similar fighters in terms of Marciano's style and power (i.e. Joe Frazier, Ernie Shavers, Sonny Liston)yet I cannot think of one fighter Rocky ever faced that was a proto-type of Muhammad Ali. At least non that could absorb punishment to that level.

Mike White

The problem with that statement is that its tough to compare skill levels from different era's, theres really no way to tell who was better in their prime if they never fought.
However, Marciano did fight some great fighters, such as ezzard charles and jersey joe walcott, each twice, and won three of those fights by ko and one by Ud. He also knocked out archie moore and Harry "kid" matthews. May not be as notable of a name, but anyone who has 90 wins is a damn good boxer in my book.

However, i do believe that Ali is the greatest

[ricecrispi]

I dont think they would stop a fight on a Marciano cut and more likely cuts he would sustain in an Ali fight. A young Ali would probably beat Marciano by decision by dancing away. I don't think post suspension Ali could.

[Barrera fan]

Ali was one of the greatest boxer of all time but as he said himself in the video champions forever he was the greatest of his time and he said he realises that no one can be the greatest forever because there will always be someone who comes along that rules his own era and will be added to the list of great champions
P.S. if any of you see the video champions forever in the shops buy it, its brilliant

[butterfly1964]

How could Ali be overrated? He is actually overwelmingly underrated. Some people say his greatest asset was his speed. Others say it was his determination and ability to take a punch. Muhammad Ali's greatest asset bar-none was his dedication. That is what makes the greatest of all time in a sport, nothing else. Michael Jordan is the greatest in basket ball for his dedication and his refusal to win. The same goes for Wayne Gretsky in Hockey, Michael Johnson in track and field, Jim Brown in football, Lance Armstrong in cycling, Willie Mays in baseball, and last but not least (probably first) Muhammad Ali in boxing. When Clay (Ali) was twelve years old, and just started boxing, he was one of the worst kid fighters probably in Kentucky, believe it or not. He went to the gym far longer than all the kids though. He was clumsy and awkward at first, but with counless hours of coordination drills he became skillful and quick. He then started winning golden glove titles, and he even copped Olympic Gold in 1960 as a Light Heavyweight, and da rest, as they say, is hissstoryyyy!!!!!

He honed his hand and foot skills in the late 60s. He was always saying he was the greatest, but he knew he had to back it up, so he did. Countless miles of roadwork and punching the bag and sparring made him unbeatable, not because he was a gift from God. And in his later years, conserving his energy and finding another way to win and running with that is what made him top dog in his thirties, when younger men should have been holding the crown. Bottom line, his determination did it, and don't non of yall eva forget it!

[Frazier's 15th round]

Ha, now the Ali nuthuggers storm in the thread claiming he is UNDERRATED.

[butterfly1964]

i'm not an ali nuthugger. You are just an ali playa hater and i am just stating the facts.

[Frazier's 15th round]

Yes, you are. Sure, he was the greatest, but the pedestal he is put on is so ridiculous, I just have to laugh.

[butterfly1964]

no pedestal is too high for ali. he did the impossible (count it) three times. He whooped up on sonny liston in clay-liston I in 1964 in one of the most lopsided title exchange fights in history. the only round liston won was the fifth when he rubbed the stinging liniment in clay's eyes. second, he knocked out the invincible george foreman in 1974, winning practically all the rounds also. last, but not least, he became the first and still is the only one to win the HW crown an unprecedented third time, with a very, also as the others, lopsided unanimous decision in 15 rounds over leon spinks in ali-spinks II in 1978. up to that point, this man career couldn't be made up in a storybook. anyone who did all that with the pressure from the u.s. draft board and everything is unreal. he is the black superman. he is a true legend. da butterfly (ali), is THEE GREATEST!!!