Rocky Marciano (1952) vs Muhammad Ali (1975)

This is a Great photo BUT it wasn't the knockout punch.

 

At this point I would take Rocky by UD. A fast, young Ali would probably have pulled it out, but this version is considerably slower and would have to slug it out more.

 

The Rock would stop him. A faded Frazier had him totally exhausted. A Prime Marciano would stop him.

 

:good

 

I will still take Ali, he will win enough rounds to take a Decision!!

 

Ali would win by wide UD dropping Marciano several times or TKO in the later rounds

 

If Marciano proved anything to you critics...it was that he was an absolute nightmare matchup for older greats. I like Marciano by stoppage or decision in this one. Ali was pretty far gone by 1975, still a great fighter, but he didn't have the speed/reflexes anymore to cope with a prime Marciano.

 

Ali: "The closest to death you can go" re: Frazier III.

 

Ali was there to be hit, and Marciano would get low and throw powerful shots to wear Ali down, and would simply out-work him.

 

I'm going with Marciano. He is a stylistic nightmare for a fading Ali. Ali would end up laying on the ropes with Marciano blasting away without tiring.

 

As much as I love Marciano I still have to go with Ali in this one. Ali in '75 still had plenty left in the tank as evidenced by that 3rd fight with Frazier. It's no coincidence that many consider this to be the greatest HW title fight of all time and that wouldn't be the case if Ali were merely a shell of his former self at that time. In the stifling heat of the ring in Manila Ali at 224 lbs had plenty of movement and snap in his punches and was teeing of on Frazier up until the stoppage. Not to mention the fact that he was still on his feet and fighting after having taken hundreds of hard shots to the body and head by smokin' Joe. That version of Ali would still be the biggest combination of size, speed and chin that Rocky ever faced and I don't see Marciano stopping that version of Ali either. Christ, Ali was fielding bombs from Shavers 2 years later! What I see is Rocky putting up a gallant effort and even hurting Ali on a few occasions which keeps Muhammed honest but eventually losing by decision. Rocky just doesn't have the speed and style and rythym of Frazier not to mention the vast disadvantage in reach to tag Ali often enough to effectively slow him down. Walcott chose to stand and trade with Rocky, something Ali wouldn't do. Ali would fight him from the outside behind his long reach and quick hands and tie up Rocky (though not for too long) and get the hell out of there before tasting Marciano's power too much. Ali of say '77 would be Marciano's meat but the Ali of '75 was still too good to lose to Rocky.

 

I think it is much closer than any earlier version of Ali. Close UD to al taking 8-10 of the rounds.

 

Ali SD in a very very grueling battle. this Ali might be better suited for beating Marciano because he can slug and will mostly stay off the ropes.