Rocky Marciano has a very good case for #1...

if u think marciano had poor technique, then you dont know anything about fighting

 

And it can never be regained?

History argues otherwise and I come down on the side of history.

Also, how do you know that Ali wasn't consistently training and doing roadwork, plus actively sparring during his layoff. I doubt it if he just flopped down in front of the TV and popped candy bars and slopped down beer for three years.

Can't defend yourself?---Quarry did not land a significant head punch in the three rounds he lasted.

Can't throw a punch?---The left hook which stopped Bonavena was arguably the best single punch Ali ever landed.

Can't move?---watch the film of the Quarry fight. Compare it to the film of the 1966 fight with the slower Chuvalo.

 

Stamina can't be regained to past levels, past a certain age, why do you think all the best distance running records are set between 21-26? Stamina is the first thing to go, although you can maintain it to say 80-90%

Can't defend yourself? - Not meaning you can't defend yourself at all, meaning when your tired you can't move your head as much or move as much, and really tired then your hands drop. So against Foreman in Ali's prime don't expect to see Ali goto the ropes so early. Against Frazier/Norton in his prime he moves more, uses more angles giving him an easier time of it

Can't throw a punch? - Meaning you can't maintain the same punch output you once did. Ali tended to throw allot of leather still so it applys less to him

The main regression for me in Ali is the amount he moved decreased and in his prime this was possibly his biggest strength. I would compare a shot fighter to fighting after a long run, try sparring sometime after an exhausting run you get battered by far far inferior fighters.

 

Chuvalo stated on ESPN that Ali was significantly slower in the second fight.

 

"Poor" and "unorthodox" technique are often mixed up.

No one fought like Marciano, but his style was awfully effective in his own way. Just like no one fights like Ali, Walcott, or V. Klitschko, but they were all very effective with their style.

 

Actually, Ali was hit more by Chuvalo in 1966 than he was hit by Quarry, Bonavena, and Ellis combined. And the films of his mid-sixties fights show that while he had dazzling foot speed, he would come down off his toes for long stretches. He moved more against Bonavena in the later rounds than he did against Chuvalo in the later rounds.

 

"All the best running distance records are set between 21 and 26."

I was a jogger when younger (now a walker) and so followed distance running--Carlos Lopes won the 1984 Olympic Marathon at 37. Others over 30, and I am trying an exhaustive seach--Emil Zatopek (1952-30),
Waldemar Cierpinski (1980-30), Abibe Bakila (1964-32). Zatopek won the 5000, 10,000, & Marathon at the 1952 Olympics at 30. Certainly top performances well into the 30's is possible.

 

quarry lasted 3 via cuts so let's see round 4 and 5 of ali v bonavena. patterson also said young ali was better. it's a no brainer as far as i'm concerned.

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Be fair and show the later rounds in which Ali moves. He played with Bonavena in this round and Cosell panicked.

At the end of the fight Cosell asked Angelo Dundee his opinion and seemed surprised when Dundee told him he was very happy with Ali's performance. I wasn't surprised. I thought he was impressive and showed much more ability to handle himself in the clinches than he did in 1966. I gave Ali every round.

 

Tommy Morrison would have been KO´d by some female boxers, you dumbass. What´s your problem with Marciano? That a white fighter retired unbeaten or what? Get over it...

 

yeah dundee is going to go against ali infront of him with millions watching LOL. i've watched the whole fight. maybe you need to buy a pair of glasses!

this is ali playing with folley - his last fight before exile

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Groove? I only see you posting when it comes to your god and idol Ali or when you trash talk about Marciano. There are more than these 2 fighters... btw, I mean that one in general, there are 5 fighters who could be placed at the 1st place: Lewis, Marciano, Louis, Ali and Jeffries, Everyone totally dominated their era, so it´s not fair when someone for example says " I place Louis at 1st" that another poster here write so things who aren´t true. Of course we can disagree with an opinion, but some of you just overact...