Footage of Marciano Flooring Ali FOUND!

I sat directly behind Muhammad Ali, at the old Stanley Theater in Philadelphia, the night they showed the Ali-Marciano computer fight. Ali was very friendly with me and we talked off and on throughout the show. He spoke very highly of Rocky and said he had great respect him.

Ali: "He was in his forties and he still hit hard!"
Me: "What do you think? Could you have beaten Marciano when he was in his prime?"
Ali: "I don't know. I don't want to say anything bad about Rocky. I have great respect for him! I'll whoop Joe Frazier, though!"

 

It wasn't serious obviously, but you can bet both men, at times, let their competitive spirit get the better of them and launched some serious punches.

 

That's a nice story. Sounds like typical Ali at the end.

 

Joe Frazier said there were 2 fighters besides himself that he was sure would beat Ali...Louis and Marciano.....I think Ali was a great fighter but he would have to dance all night to beat these 2 ...I think Ali would present a problem for both men but do not be fooled to think Marciano and Louis would not have a good chance of winning clear like Frazier did in fight 1....Ali was great but did not walk on water like a lot of posters believe...he had the style to beat 2 slow mean looking monsters, Liston and Foreman....but Ali had his share of tough fights Norton,Cooper,Jones, even Chuvalo(body shots too many) Frazier, Young...the only one that was more of a complete fighter was Frazier (punch,stamina,winning attitude) and he bested Ali while both were prime

 

well i would love to see marciano come back after nearly 4 years out of the ring and face a peak frazier. man he would be murdered - he ain't fighting no don cockell LOL. ali was at his prime like frazier for that fight. yeah maybe in your dreams bummy

 

4 years? More like 12 or 13 years.

 

I tend to lean that way as well. At least, he would have to go through absolute hell to win.

Well, if they had been paying close attention it was already clear that the left hook was Ali's achille's heel. He'd already been floored two times by left hooks. Chuvalo landed a respectable number as well.

 

I believe marciano beats the FOTC or rumble in jungle version of ali(no way ali can dope a dope vs marciano)..........But I do believe a 1966-67 ali outpoints rocky marciano. The only fighter I believe can beat that Peak Version of Ali is Joe Louis.

 

Ali was still a young man and had 2 big fights vs Quarry and Bonevena. after 3 yrs off..It was not like he came back after 4 years off at the age of 37 like Vitali Klitschko and fought the Champ( even though Frazier was much better than Peter IMO...I happen to think Ali was stronger than before the comeback....but I guess its a hard pill for a die hard Ali-fan like you (the bad beating he took from Joe)...I dont know how well Marciano would have come back from a layoff (because he never had to, he only fought in his prime) but If the Ali that fought Frazier in 1 would have his hands full with Marciano and Louis just like he did with Frazier...The Ali prior to the comeback may have been faster and more of a mover but he was not as strong and that my opinion...

 

well every great fighter and trainer thinks the same as me - ali who faced frazier was not in the same league than the guy who left boxing in 1967. i take insights from the likes of Cus D'Mato who was there with Ali at the time of the comeback and know the truth and reality of the situation + you can clearly see the diminished changes with one's own eyes - re-watch the bonavena fight.