Ali-Chuvalo-1966

Muhammad would have won,definitely. Ali had just entered the phase where he was the best we've ever seen him.

 

Although Ali won most of the rounds, he didn't have an easy time in there at all. Marciano equals his toughness but brings a LOT more skill, pressure and punching power to the table. It's because of this fight and the FOTC that i wouldn't count Rocky out, although i'd make him a small underdog. I think Ali would win 2 out of 3.

 

Due to being in and out of court right before the fight and scheduling it on short notice Ali was probably less physically and mentally prepared before this fight than any other during his first reign. That he came in at his highest weight yet (he didn't scale as hight again until FOTC) is a testiment to this. He wasn't in bad shape, but certainly not in the best shape. So, Rocky at his very best would be in with a great chance here.

But Ali showed throughout his career that he could up himself if needed to during a fight, and this would be the difference in a hard, hard fight.

 

Actually,I think Ali could have moved more if he had wanted to , he decided to prove a point about how he could take body shots,I dont think for one moment that If Marciano was in the other corner ,Ali would have spent so long on the ropes.Chuvalo was not a big puncher, Rocky was,Ali would not have given him free shots at his midriff.

 

Ali said Chuvalo would have broken him in half had he not defended the majority of the blows.

I think Ali attempted an early version of the rope-a-dope here, he admitted he wasn't in as great a shape as he could have been.

 

When he watched the fight together with Cosell afterwards he said that he wasn't to bothered with the body blows above the belt, only those landing the below. If he, as is populary claimed, pissed blood afterwards, it was probably from the ones below the belt.

He also said that he wanted Chuvalo to punch himself out, but that he abandonned that tactic when Chuvalo showed no sign whatsoever of doing so.

 

I think he said he wasn't bothered by the ones that hit his protector.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgk3hwUqbyg[/ame]

4:00

 

At 1.39-1.55

Cosell: Did he hurt you there at all?

Ali: Not really. But a few body punches, I think one is coming up now... There; that was a low blow. And I feel those a little... That was another one.

Cosell: So they began to sap your strength as the fight went on?

Ali: A little they can, yes.


To me it seems that he was referring to the low blows.

 

Chuvalo's best punch was a-left chin-to the right-glove!

 

Muhammad Ali by a clear UD in a tough fight

 

I go along with this. Ali would have been totally focused for Marciano.

 

Or a right cross to the cojones..!! Chuvalo was one tough guy,though.

 

Marciano is better but Chuvalos chin is much better, hes much stronger and has very underrated brutal power, especially to the body. I don't see Marciano taking Ali's attacks as well as Chuvalo managed and keep coming forward.

 

I don't think he would be taking as many attacks though. Chuvalo was a straight-up boxer while Marciano came in with a crouching style. Rocky was no defensive artist but compared to Chuvalo he was hard to hit.

Chuvalo, while you could land on him, was difficult to hurt though. According to his own words he always took the majority of the punches on his arms and the forehead, few of them truly landed on his chin.