Ali vs. Marciano (computer fight) Was it fixed in Marciano's favor?

They had alternate winners for the computer fight, depending on where the fight was played.

 

I heard in the US it Rocky as the winner and outside of the US it was Ali.

 

Possibly. Even without considering potential racist motives, Ali was presumably still unpopular because of refusing the draft. Marciano had recently tragically died before the 'fight' was due to be screened, and it may have been seen as a fitting tribute to have the fallen warrior win one last battle.

Several endings were shot, with both Ali and Rocky winning some. It was only a question of which ending would chosen by the computer and be screened.

I remember reading there were petitions from Marciano family/friends to have him win (after Rocky's death). Who can say if they had any effect in the wake of the popular Marciano's death?

On the other hand, Rocky's victory may have been a foregone conclusion, as a computer had recently picked Rocky as the winner in a computer tournament between all the HW champions (Rocky KO'd Dempsey in the final. Ali was beaten by Jim Jeffries) It was staged by the same organisation, I think. I am not sure if the computer was reprogrammed for Ali/Marciano.

I think that Ali certainly didn't take it that seriously (he was out of shape and overweight) he had ridiculed the computers earlier decision that Jeffries would beat him. Ali was banned from fighting and short of cash, so he just saw it as a handy money earner. Marciano took it more seriously, losing a lot of weight to come in as in-shape as possible. But according to Ali's autobiography (an unreliable document, admittedly), Rocky also thought it was 'bull****.'

BTW, both Rocky and Ali developed a real respect for each other during shooting, and Ali said he became closer to Rocky than to any other white fighter. In his autobiography, Ali recounts driving like crazy and running red lights to attend Rocky's funeral.

 

I would pick Ali to beat all fighters H2H: Louis, Lewis, Tyson, Johnson, Dempsey, Kitchko bros., ............ Against Marciano though, I'd flip a coin.

 

Just because they said there glad Ali got it doesnt mean they were racist. That was a pretty common turn.

They said it when Dempsey beat Willard. They wanted Dempsey to "Get" it" vs Carp, Firpo and Gibbions. And the feeling change when Tunney beat Dempsey. Maybe the computer was change for the Rock to win, but at the time in 69 there were MANY questions in regards to Ali's chin. So perhaps Marciano could have landed a punch or something.

 

Dempsey was pretty hated in the early 20's. Mostly because of failing to fight in the great war. Today only after the fact does Dempsey get the some of the credit. The Tunney fights turn Dempsey from War doger villian to boxing legend. Ali was in the same bout when he refuse to be drafted in the armer at the time. The press was all over it. Well the Press was not helping either, as they keep calling him Clay. Hell Patterson keep calling Ali Clay, does that make Patterson a racist?

 

seeing as the fight was not real then it had to be fixed one way or another.i don't get the point of the thread.

 

I don't know what Dempsey's draft status was, but in Ali's case I believe he was conscientious objector. To me that's much different than being a dodger, Ali saw that war for what it was and voiced his opinion about it without any false pretenses. To me a draft dodger is somone who deliberately sneaks his way out of service through deferments, preferred treatment, running away, etc.

Just curious, what was the draft status of: Frazier, Foreman, Bob Foster, Jerry Quarry, and all the other boxers who were of age during this era. The only one I ever hear anything about is Ali.

 

Calling him Cassius Clay is racist ??

Was calling Livingstone Bramble racist after he said he was Ras I Aluja Bramble ?

Is calling Prince racist instead of calling him "Artist formerly known as ...." ?

Is "Dwight Braxton" a racist term ?

Calling someone by their former name is not racist. It might be incorrect, it might even be ignorant. But I dont think it's racist.

 

Ali won a decision in Britain and Europe; Marciano won by a TKO in I think nine in the USA?

There were allegedly quite a few different endings filmed. They would got a load more except The Rock's Toupee failed him.