Which Former Heavyweight Champ Has The Most" Rose Coloured Glasses," Wearing Fans?

I was being rhetorical. I know that you know a lot about Ali.
Which is why I'm confounded, since he is known for talking himself above other boxers, and ex champs.

"If the guys who fought Joe Louis fought me today, they would boo them out of the ring."
"Joe Louis, Marciano, Jack Dempsey, all of em were bums!"

 

You seen the documentary with Ali and Cus? Half the time it's them arguing about Joe Louis.

Sometimes Ali flip flops on subjects like these. However, this answer wasn't his typical tongue in cheek stuff. He was being thoughtful, and referred to experiences he had in the past with Marciano.

I totally wouldn't take it with a grain of salt.

 

Why would he need to be faster? You don't think Marciano has enough speed to connect with Ali? Marciano would close the distance under the jab. Ali is going to punch downwards for much of the fight, hindering his mobility, and leaving himself open for dangerous counters.

Ali would be in a war. Marciano would counter many of his jabs out of his very low crouch. He would apply constant pressure using overhand rights and hooks to close the distance. Ali would be sticking and moving the whole time. Landing plenty of sharp jabs, straights, and hooks. Lots of punches connecting from both boxers in a ruthless battle of attrition and determination. Marciano gets flash knocked down once from a straight right in round 5. Ali goes down from a powerful overhand right in round 13, and miraculously gets up in 2 seconds. They both wobble each other in the last two rounds. Rocky with power punches to the jaw. Ali with fast combos. Ali beats Marciano by one or two points.

Prime Ali beats prime Marciano slightly by points.
71 Ali loses slightly on points.

 

Well, we obviously have the answer to the threads title question.

 

Muhammad Ali and it's not even close. Aside from his blind, diehard fans, the general public and casual fans all have deemed him invincible, and some of them haven't even seen him fight. I agree with NoNeck....Ali was very boring in the 1970's.

 

Tommy Burns.

 

It has to be Jack Dempsey. There are more excuses made up for him than any champion in boxing history. I challenge one poster to make a case for Dempsey being one of the top 10 heavyweight champions of all time without making a single excuse.


As for mcvea hegrant and Seamus regarding "delusional marcianos fans"....if you lump me in as one of them then please tell me which of my following Marciano opinions do you find delusional?

1. I believe he was a top 10 heavyweight of all time based on accomplishments
2. I would make him a slight favorite over joe Frazier and Dempsey
3. Head to head I would not pick him over any of the great modern super sized big punching heavyweights of all time (Bowe Klitschko Lewis foreman Liston Tyson )
4. I think he gives Holmes and Ali quite a bit of trouble but loses
5. Head to head I wouldn't favor any sub 190lb man over him in history
6. I think he defeated very good opposition during his career for a heavyweight champion, he beat the best of his era.
7. I don't believe his resume is deep compared to many other great champions but the quality is there
8. He had the "it" factor. At his best he was the RINGS ultimate animal
9. He loses badly to Joe Louis at his best
10. Moore Walcott Charles don't beat Marciano at any point in there careers. Charles has the best shot.
11. Marciano had great one punch power in his right hand at his peak

Now please explain which of these opinions is considered "delusional"?

 

That is a fair and balanced post and it is very refreshing to see a realistic appraisal of Marciano.
Sadly we have a few on here who cannot bring themselves to admit they would favour anyone over him from any era.
RockyJim simply runs away anytime he is asked this question and it is delusional fanboys like that who cause the backlash.

 

This.

Every fighter that loses usually can point to something {an excuse or whatever} the difference with Ali is that along with Angelo Dundee helping with the spin they are taken as gospel.

 

I disagree with him matching up against Frazier, harder to say re Dempsey. I find it all rational though,

 

Who, Ali?