Peak Marciano would beat Zaire Ali.

Ali knocks Marciano down and out in the first round with his patented anchor punch. Unlike against Moore and Walcott, Marciano doesn't get up.

Thousands die in the ensuing riots.

 

Ali and Dundee would in all likelyhood work out a plan to nullify Rocky would it work who knows but he would fight him in a similar way he fought in the last two Frazier fights to try and win on points, Rocky does not knock Ali out.

 

This is an interesting fight.

I think one thing we need to keep in mind was how savvy Ali was. Marciano was murder on the inside, but Ali was an expert in smothering a man in close, usually by grabbing him behind the head and pullling his head down, keeping him off-balance.
He did it a lot vs. George and a hell of a lot against Frazier. Actually, it gets hugely annoying watching how often he got away with it.

I don't think it would just be a case of Marciano just hammering away at Ali as he pleases. Ali would do quite a bit of smothering and holding, negating a lot of Rocky's effectiveness inside. Ali certainly had the strength and savvy to do so.

Don'y get me wrong, Marciano would definitely be a tough, tough fight for Zaire Ali, but I think we'd see him frustrated a lot of the time, having to deal with a man who is not only super tough, but grabbing hold of him at every opportunity and scoring with quick punches when at range.
I often think fighting this type of opponent must be the most supremely frustrating experience, because theoretically the ropes is where you want him, but if you cannot capitalise on it, you're in trouble.

Even so, it's hard to see Rocky not getting off inside or being totally dominated inside by Ali. He'd get his licks in, and he'd have the stamina to keep up the attack round after round. I also believe he'd fight a much smarter fight than George did and pace himself better and pick his shots a bit better.

I think it's about 50/50 honestly. Ali was still very formidable in Zaire. Older, but wiser. Ironically I think Rocky would maybe do better against a younger, less experienced Ali.

 

No.Ali wouldnt fight like he did against Foreman.Foreman weighed 220 for Ali ,Marciano's best weight was around 187,Rocky was very strong ,but I dont see him bullying even a past it Ali.Ali would move a bit jabbing ,clinch when he needed to try and smother Rocky's howitzer punches,the flurry and move away Marciano was relentless but comparatively slow afoot,Ali would be able to save a bit when he wanted ,it wouldnt be a furious assault like Fraziers coming at him,but a steady non stop bombardment.I think Ali spears Rocky with his jab and clips him with enough right crosses to take a dec ,and he took a body shot as well as anyone Ive seen so he weathers Marciano's swings ,imo.

 

good analysis- ali was better than anyone at taking body shots. 2 occassions where they did affect him - one v Mildenburger and one in Norton 3. Marciano had less of a reach than Frazier. i think he takes too many shots coming in to Ali. He needs to get in close to body then head - Ali would throw flurries when he's in range and then move. if Ali can keep the lateral movement going then that's his best game plan.

 

Ali UD. Unless we're talking about the post '75 version.

 

This cliché really bothers me. The win over Foreman was a triumph for technical profiency. His extremely tight guard, the economy and sharpness of his punches, the perfect balance etc, etc. Do you realise what kind of technique it takes to hit Foreman with right hand leads like Ali did already in the first round?

Sure, Ali's speed was a big help, but you also has to be a master at 'masking' the punch and delivering it at exactly the right time. And the final KO combination... To move out from the corner, positioning Foreman against the ropes and at the same time delivering clean, concussive punches right on the button...

YOU NEED SOME WICKED EFFING TECHNIQUE TO DO THAT!!!

 

Charles was one month shy of 33 years, Walcott was 38. I feel comfortable calling them "well into their 30's", but if you prefer I could say that Charles was nearer 35 than 30 and Walcott was nearer 40 than 35. Fact of the matter is that they both were older than Ali was in Zaire. Charles only by the odd month, but Walcott by more than five years.

 

I have a hard time seeing Marciano winning this one. Ali wouldn't have to dance all night against Rocky as Rocky did'n't move very fast on the attack anyway. With Ali's 11" reach advantage and 4-5" inch height advantage he could keep Marciano at arms length and pretty much pick his shots as Marciano tries to work his way in close. Rocky would be reduced to lunging in a desperate attempt to land a big one and that would play right into Alli's hands. On the few ocassions when Rocky did get close Ali would tie him up and get out of there before taking too many hard shots. Ali showed in Zaire that he was still a top notch HW with plenty of savvy and a pair of quick hands to boot. Add the size difference and I don't see a Marciano win. Ali at 32 was still far more formidable than Chales of the same age and considerably bigger and more mobile as well. I think the 77-78 version of Ali is the one we should be looking at as the one Marciano would have a good chance of beating. The 74 version was still too good for the Rock.

 

Ali was in superb shape for that fight in Zaire, hitting with superb speed and power. Still, he wasn't as mobile as he had been. I'm not sure whether Marciano would force him to attempt a rope-a-dope, probably not as much as Foreman did. Ali would be free to try other methods to spoil Rocky's attack at times. All of them would work a bit but only to an extent.
I think Marciano would probably outwork him down the stretch though. A tough fight, I think Marciano would take a decision.

 

Put the pipe down, Marciano went life and death with ancient balding ko'ed multiple times Walcoot and needed a eleventh hour KO to pull it out and now he would out work a 6 year younger Ali whose boxing abilities are in a completely different time zone than shop worn old Walcott........pick another sport, like synchronized swimming.

 

At first I scratched my head at the title, then looked at the original publication date and remembered how much its author has evolved over the past 8 years.

 

God knows I dislike Ali, but I think Zaire was his greatest performance and I think he'd have toyed with Rocky, stopping him on cuts during the last five rounds.

 

Give it a rest Mr Expert. Ali himself said that Walcott would have given trouble, maybe he should have taken up another sport and left to experts like you.

 

I gotta go Ali, the combo of speed, strength, size and will carries the day. I would love to have seen it !