Could any fighter Ali`s size or smaller have beaten him?

Great post. Other posters could learn a lot from you, Seamus.

 

Your a good sport Mark. Better than me for sure. Keep on truckin bud.

 

I'm not a boomer, and Ali himself said Marciano had the best chance against him but whatever

 

LOL

 

And I thought you were going to say Leon Spinks.

 

Can we have a source for this please?

 

Very true.

Ali stated Marciano was “better than Joe Frazier”, the he could not determine who would win and that maybe he would win one and Marciano could win another.

Based upon what Frazier was able to do vs Ali in three bouts there is no doubt Marciano, a two handed KO puncher/swarmer, would also give Ali hell.

I give prime Marciano a 50/50 shot at beating prime Ali. Rocky had the perfect style to do so.

 

Ali slices and dices Marciano up for a bloody tko.

 

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It's common knowledge that Ali considered Marciano his toughest challenge if he were to fight history's best fighters.

Fun fact! Joe Louis, George Foreman, and Joe Frazier also all regard Marciano more highly than Muhammad Ali!

 

So no source, thanks.lol

 

That was in the late 60’s.

A few years later Ali sat down and reviewed old fight films of the past greats. He had praise for Dempsey and Tunney but very high praise for Marciano. Among everything else he stated “ just playing in the ring with Marciano I could not raise my arms at the end of the day” and “man could he hit!”

Rocky had the style to give Ali hell. Think of Frazier with TWO equally powerful and effective fists.

 

Or maybe Frazier wasn't as good as in their first bout.....

 

Lol most people who know boxing though 180 pound Doug Jones beat Ali. So the answer is yes. If Doug Jones could do if then a better 180 pound guy could do it. Ken Norton was around Ali's size and according to Ali he knew he lost all 3 times and he knew he could never beat him.