Could Ali Have Rope-A-Doped Marciano?

I'm just glad I was the scarecrow and not someone lame.

 

Not to the desired effect no. He obviously could just lay there like against Foreman but it worked so well against Foreman because
a) Foreman threw very wild, swings
b) Ali was fast enough to counter and block without getting hit
c) Foreman didn't have that much gas

If he did this too Marciano all he would get out of it is some very bruised arms and stomach. He would not be able to counter Marciano like he did so effectivley against Foreman with Marciano's very low centre of gravity and tight, short, numerous punches. Then again Ali is no dope and would realise that this fella isn't going to tire and would move. Then again maybe he wouldn't like against Frazier in FOTC.

 

The rope-a-dope was the perfect tactic to use against George Foreman. It would n't have been against Marciano. Muhammad would have beaten Rocky with lateral movement and superfast punches from the centre of the ring.

 

:rofl literally the greatest post of all time

 

This would be entirely the wrong tactic to use against Marciano.

 

The 60's version of Ali would constantly move and jab and frustrate Marciano. He might stay on the ropes briefly to rest but would have more success keeping it in the ring center.

The slower, thicker 70's Ali had the chin to withstand Marciano's bombs. He would return fire and probably cut up his face (mainly eye area) with his combinations off the ropes.

Remember, Ali was a much bigger man than Moore, Walcott, Charles, etc. The difference in physcial strength between Ali and those men will be appreciable.

 

Well,,,,,,,

It didn't work to well against Larry Holmes.

After the "First Round', The Easton Assassin' said,

'This is going to be the easiest fight of my life'.

And,,,,,,,,,,,,,,IT WAS.

 

Ali wouldnt NEED to go to the ropes against marciano

He was forced to against George, who was bigger than Marciano and George literally walked through Alis punches. Ali had originally intended to dance but found out Foreman also cut the ring off pretty well.

There was no other way to tame THAT Foreman. This is the same Foreman who took Frazier left hooks without even blinking. That version of Foreman KOS any other heavy except Ali and Jimmy Young (before RedCobra gets here)

 

Fraizer noted Ali wouldn't be able to Rope-A-Dope Marciano. And he's probably right, as he did against LaStarza and Archie Moore, Rocky won't stop throwing once he has you in this position, making it difficult to block, counter, and slip continously. The barrage that finished Moore was something like 90 straight punches from both hands at all angles, Moore was slipping and countering at first but by the end he was just overwhelmed. Ali would be tenderized by the middle rounds and Rocky would show no signs of slowing down.

Charles survived Marciano in the first fight by staying off the ropes and slipping punches in the middle of the ring. This would be Ali's best strategy, controlling the distance.

 

Except for Marvis Frazier ?

 

No.

Ali tried to rope-a-dope Frazier in the FOTC, especially in the middle rounds where he sat back and let Joe go to work without much in return. If he thinks he's gonna gas Marciano with this strategy, he'll have a lot of catching up to do depending on the round he starts to pick up his own offense. Marciano would be no dope on the ropes and he'd go to work on Ali's body just like Joe. More right hand shots too.

 

Who is this troll and spammer....

 

He could not rope a dope Frazier, he tried it in the FOTC in the 11th and Ali got rocked badly, Marciano had 2 hands and I think better one punch power than Frazier. Ali's best strategy against Marciano would be to move and jab, stopping with a combination but Marciano would be a difficult fight for him because of the Rhythm breaking punching and odd-angled shots from Marciano....I like Marciano against Ali unless Ali fought a perfect fight but Marciano was a lot tougher in the ring than watching him from the outside but I think Ali knew this....Ali's best game plan would be to move,move move,jab jab jab but Marciano would come out of that catchers position with an awkward arsenal and if inferior opposition like Bonavena could be effective a harder hitting,faster and more relentless Animal named Marciano would certainly be much more effective. Frazier said Ali could not rope-a dope Marciano, Rocky would break down his body and arms and never tire.

 

The Ali of the 70's couldn't move like the Ali of the 1960's...he hoped his opponents would run out of gas..like Foreman did in 1974 in Zaire...the rope a dope against a fighter with endless stamina like prime Marciano would be a recipe for disaster...along with The Rock's high work rate...