Rocky Marciano vs. FOTC Muhammad Ali

Ali, clear UD. Rocky doesn't have the speed of Joe to close the gap.

 

A peak Ali wins this fight with his greater hand & footspeed , a 37 year old Jersey Joe Walcott was winning the first Marciano fight until Rocky caught up with him Walcott was winning by using his great footwork and ring craft, as great as Jersey Joe was, Ali was greater and Rocky would'nt catch up with Ali, I see Ali winning very clearly on points or by late fight stoppage if he starts letting his combinations go .

{I just like to say I think Rocky Marciano is a great fighter but I just think a peak Ali is all wrong for him}

 

The Ali at the time of the fight was by all accounts - Rusty. Marciano while not as fast or smooth as Frazier has many of the great intangible qualities - Good Chin, Heart, and Will Power. A Marciano who is trailing behind on points can probably still KO/TKO this Ali. Marciano is just one of those guys that I think is almost impossible to put away...

 

Not sure why anyone would have the impression that it took speed to catch Ali when Chuvalo and to a lesser extent Cooper were able to close the gap and do some damage on the inside while he was in his "prime ," same story with Frazier, Norton, and even Foreman before he gassed. Ali proved elusive against jabbers and more traditional boxers like Liston, Terrell, and the later year Patterson, but his defense often didn't hold up against tough close quarter pressuring fighters, especially the well conditioned ones like Norton, Frazier, and Chuvalo that could go 15. Marciano certianly falls into that category, it would not be an easy night for Ali. Especially when you consider the unpredictable two handed attack of Marciano in regards to Frazier's effective but left hook heavy strategy. Really, Walcott was a much more difficult defensive fighter than Ali and a better counter puncher, he just didn't have the stamina and volume punching of an Ali.

 

no disrespect but what a stupid idea... frazier was much faster then rocky was. and besides ali still was way to fast for marciano. he might hit ali a few times good and possibly floor him once but that's it. but ali's lightning jab would make a mess of his face. and ali would outbox him. ali by UD or late TKO