Better Career: Marciano or Ali pre-Exile?

M Marciano

 

Marciano

 

Muhammad Ali, 1964-1967. 9 title defenses, 29-0, 23 KO's. Ali cannot be faulted that his career was cut short in his first title reign. He excercised his 3 rd Amendment Rights, Freedom Of Religion. He did not support killing innocent people in any kind of a war with firearms. He therefore was stripped of his title, and his boxing license was revoked, his banishment robbed him of his prime, it lasted 43 months. Later he was exonerated of this in 1971. Rocky Marciano could have continued his career past 1956, but it was his choice to retire with his title intact

 

You forgot Charles 2, Lastarza 2, Rex Layne, and Harry Matthews all of which are arguably better then a lot of names up there. Even Cockell is just as good as Jones or Cooper.

Patterson was not
Prime for Ali. Not even close.

before Louis Marciano beat prime versions of Layne and Lastarza, Muscato and stepping stones in Vingo, Gino Buonvino, Johnny Schkor etc. Hardly cab drivers but not the toughest of
Competition

 

Rocky also fought more hall of famers than the pre exile Ali. I believe Rocky is slightly greater , with a slightly better career.

 

Again from 1964-1967, Muhammad Ali could not pluck Rocky Marciano's challengers into his era, a fighter can only fight realistically the opponents from his era. Could Rocky yank Sonny Liston or Ernie Terrell from the future, a big No, and vice versa. I think posters get hung up on resumes, mixing them up with hypothetical fights that only occurs in our imaginations. They are fun, I myself suppose all the time as others do, but I base fantasy wins on skills.

 

I give it to Ali, but it's close.
If the OP like, you can add a poll. I think the result would be interesting and it's more convenient for people, who don't wanna have endless discussions (appears to be very common in Marciano Threads).

 

Pretty close. Liston is a huge scalp.

 

None.
And no, NONE of the HOF Ali fought pre exile were at their prime.

 

Oh he did, and that was impressive. But that doesn't mean Liston was at his absolute peak at that time.
Let's ask a boxing experts and see what he thinks about that.
"I think that the time that he finally got to the title, I think his best years had gone and right after he won the title he began to live the life of a middle aged wealthy man. He lost the real focus that he had earlier. ’57, ’58, and ’59 he was one of the most vicious machines probably ever in boxing, but after he won the title, from my reports and from what I gather, he started drinking a lot and he was golfing and he just lost that total edge. He was living the life of a comfortable man and then here comes exactly what the computer prints out—the thing in the world for him..

A fast, young fighter, good movement, a solid amateur background, and who had been fighting on a regular basis, so therefore when the match-up came it was just perfect timing for one, terrible timing for another guy who had slipped past his prime."
Emmanuel Steward.
https://www.boxing247.com/weblog/archives/128028
Though i agree Liston losing to Ali has also something to do with the "style make fight" thing.
I still think Ali would have beaten Patterson, Moore and Liston even in their primes.
Rocky , i'm not sure if he would have beaten a prime Ezzard charles or a prime Joe Louis.

 

Marciano at that point, and it was reflected in the rankings of the day.