Rocky Marciano vs 70s Muhamad Ali

Ali '74 wins. He still had the tools to do the job. Obviously it would be a lot tighter fight than if it were a 1966/67 incarnation of Muhammad.

 

Marciano had the knack of coming up with the BIG punch when he needed too...such as the second fight with Ezzard Charles in Sept. 1954...when he had his nose SPLIT wide open in the 6th round. The corner had trouble stopping the flow of blood...and they were worried that the ref and doctor would stop the fight. Rocky stormed out...KO'd Charles...and kept the title! One of the worst and most unusual cuts in boxing history. If a cut like that only spurred Marciano on...then Ali is not going to stop him on cuts! Ali told Howard Cosell in 1976 that Marciano would give him the toughest time...and that Rocky could have beaten him. He also said that Marciano was better than Joe Frazier.
Marciano was not that easy to hit as people think. He's not Willie Pep...but he's not the "face first" fighter that people think! He gives Ali the toughest fight of his career. Boxers like Ali HATE having to fight a swarmer...he can't dictate the fight from the center of the ring like he wants too. Pressure...pressure...pressure!!! You don't beat a fighter like Marciano over 15 rounds with a left jab! The"Rope a Dope" is out of the question! When he & Marciano filmed the computer fight in the summer of 1969...shortly before Rocky was killed...Ali said after that Rocky was a lot harder to hit with a left jab... that some of the body punches got through...and raised welts on Ali's arms. Ali was NOT unhittable!!!

 

I believe it's: Sonny Liston, George Foreman.
Larry Holmes would beat him too.
Frazier would have a very good chance, i favor him to do so.
Probably Jimmy Young too.
Folley would lose to marciano, but with his underrated speed, and defensive skills, coupled with his powerful counter punching, he might cut the rock to pieces.

 

You sure about this? I've not heard this before.

 

In the "Aftermath" Section here, it's mentioned: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_vs._Antonio_Inoki

In spite of what's said there, I doubt if they gave SERIOUS consideration to amputation. (That's just my opinion.)

 

To OP's original question, I think Ali would find a way to win, probably by decision. Marciano would not be an easy fight for Ali, at any time, due to styles and Marciano's bulldog determination.

 

Excellent post. Mine are Liston, Foreman, Holmes, Frazier, Williams (though not the literally shot one Ali faced so I guess he doesn't count), Quarry (back and fourth on this. Quarry has the right style, and Marciano's slow, and wild punches would play right into Quarry's counter-punching hands. But on the other hand Marciano fought at a pace Quarry has proved to be uncomfortable with) and Lyle.

Shavers is 50-50 imo, he either bombs out Marciano or loses late. However I can't help thinking of his LKO1 to Quarry, as well as losses to less than stellar opponents so I lean towards Marciano.

Patterson has a decent chance. I'll make him a live underdog.

Young is a dark horse I think he'd make Marciano look silly, and hold a wide lead on the cards when he's stopped late a la Walcott.

 

lol. Are you seriously, trying to make a case that Marciano was harder to hit than Ali? No beating around the bush. Yes or no.

 

Because even in the 70’s Ali was beating monsters like Frazier and Foreman. Granted I’m talking about the Ali from 1970-1974 and NOT the one who was barely squeaking by second raters in the latter part of the decade

 

Older Ali both out-finesses and out-mans the little guy. This would be an embarrassment after a few rounds.

 

The only thing epic about this fight is the amount of punishment Rocky would sustain before it's stopped.

 

If Rocky brings his special suitcase, Ali might also leave in a rubber thong, nipple clamps and a gimp mask.

 

The fellow who beat prime George Foreman is going to lose to Rocky Marciano?

 

Do you think Marciano knocks Ali out? The guy who went a combined 72 rounds with Foreman, Liston, Frazier and Shavers and only got dropped once? I'm not seeing it.

 

Sadly, that's not even the worst part about his post. He's trying to make it out like Marciano was harder to hit than Ali.