Ali speaking about fighting Marciano - ''Marciano would be the most trouble''

[Ben_London.]

Marciano was a very good HW, but I don't think he would have bother a prime Ali, who was a lot bigger, taller, faster, and more had a better chin that Maricano.

Ali would have a height and quite a reach advantage, 82" to 67". That's 15 inches! Black fighters usually have proportionately longer arms for their height than white fighters.

But despite his size, Marciano had a better chin and was a tougher, stronger man and a harder puncher.

[Stab Judah]

Jack Dempsey couldn't lace Ali's gloves.

Yet everyone back to Nat Fleischer has called him a better version of Marciano.
I think Marciano gives him a great fight but Ali is by light years the favorite.

[street bully]

Ali would have a height and quite a reach advantage, 82" to 67". That's 15 inches! Black fighters usually have proportionately longer arms for their height than white fighters.

But despite his size, Marciano had a better chin and was a tougher, stronger man and a harder puncher.

I do not think Marciano had a better chin, or was tougher than Ali. Do you think Marciano would have put up with those helacious shots Ali was taking from Foreman?

[TEDetc]

I do not think Marciano had a better chin, or was tougher than Ali. Do you think Marciano would have put up with those helacious shots Ali was taking from Foreman?

He never took them shots FLUSH IIRC, remember the rope-a-dope etc?

Oh and most were to the body, Ali was extremely tough and had a great chin I agree but that was a bad example unless you're talking about Alis mental strength in taking ******ly hard body shots.

[Sparked_1985]

I find it hard to imagine Marciano beat Ali. Really hard.

I wouldn't pick Marciano against either of the Klitschko's either; the size disparity and the Klitscko's accuracy would get him out of there. So I definetely can imagine him beating Ali.

[-Antonio-]

Ali would have a height and quite a reach advantage, 82" to 67". That's 15 inches! Black fighters usually have proportionately longer arms for their height than white fighters.

But despite his size, Marciano had a better chin and was a tougher, stronger man and a harder puncher.

That's up for debate. Ali was very durable in his own right.

[Stab Judah]

Why is he stronger anyway ?
Just because people say he was doesn't make it so.
If Ali could push Liston, Foreman,Mathis, off i'm sure he wouldn't have much trouble with a 190-200 Marciano.

[-Antonio-]

I find it hard to imagine Marciano beat Ali. Really hard.

I wouldn't pick Marciano against either of the Klitschko's either; the size disparity and the Klitscko's accuracy would get him out of there. So I definetely can imagine him beating Ali.

At some point you have to draw the line. Size becomes too much of a factor. Bob Foster was a killer at 175, but he'd always move up to Heavy and get drilled. I think Marciano would give Ali a decent fight. He'd hang in there and pound Ali's body every once and a while. But overall I see a wide decision victory for Ali, who'd dance around Marciano all night.

[street bully]

He never took them shots FLUSH IIRC, remember the rope-a-dope etc?

Oh and most were to the body, Ali was extremely tough and had a great chin I agree but that was a bad example unless you're talking about Alis mental strength in taking ******ly hard body shots.

Ali was rolling and blockign the majority of Foremans shots, true. Then again Foreman did get multiple flush shots in on Ali, and it didn't phase him at all. Lets not forget Foreman wasn't a fighter that would grind his opponents down by landing multiple shots, Foreman could stop you with one shot.

[TheGreatA]

Ali was rolling and blockign the majority of Foremans shots, true. Then again Foreman did get multiple flush shots in on Ali, and it didn't phase him at all. Lets not forget Foreman wasn't a fighter that would grind his opponents down by landing multiple shots, Foreman could stop you with one shot.

Another example would be Earnie Shavers who had 49 KO's out of 50 wins, landed bombs on Ali to little effect. Shavers said he never hit a man as hard as he did Ali (not even Holmes).

I believe a man of Marciano's size can trouble a man of Ali's size. I do not think that Marciano could beat men even bigger than Ali (such as Lewis and the Klitschko brothers) but Ali could. That's how I see it.

180-190 to 210-220 is not that big of an advantage.
180-190 to 235-250 might be too much.
But a 210-220 lb man could compete with a 235-250 lb man.

You also have to think of the styles. Marciano relied on his strength and toughness while prime Ali relied on his elusiveness and speed.

About the match-up, lets not forget how much trouble Ali had against Chuvalo in his prime. He still won a wide decision though but it wasn't easy by any means.