Would Marciano have lasted in Manilla ?

Marciano would have went the distance . But would Ali beat him ? We would never truly know ....

 

No Marciano had an aversion to heat and humidity and would have gone home upon landing.

 

it would be a tough fight but I still have to go with Ali. He had plenty of mobility at that stage of his career. Combine that with his size, chin and hand speed and I don't see him losing. Frazier applied quicker pressure than Marciano and chased Ali all night, never giving him a breather. Rocky was a pressure fighter but not as fast as Joe which would give Ali more time to rest and throw more shots from the outside with impunity. What Ali can't afford to do against Rocky is lay on the ropes and hopes Marciano punches himself out because it won't happen. If Ali stays on his toes he should be ok and I think for the most part he would. Ali by UD.

 

Clinching and holding Marciano has it's own problems. His 6" body shots would take their toll on Ali.
I think Ali would abandon that strategy early in the fight.

 

Did he really though? I've always wondered...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1078399/index.htm

 

Chuvalo couldn't hit like Marciano could. Marciano could buckle a 300 lb heavy bag in the couple of weeks leading up to a fight.

 

Ali by stoppage probably facial damage

 

If Ali wins it, that's the way he would do it.

 

Ali had a weakness against left hooks, which is part of the reason Frazier was such a tricky match up for him. Rocky's left hook isn't nearly as good as Frazier's, he has a much better right but Ali wasn't too open to the right, you needed a jab or left hook to catch him with good punches.

I still think Ali has the edge because of this.

 

Taking beatings was Marcianos forte. Nothing he hadnt seen and overcome before. If the heat is a factor in this match for a prime or near prime Marciano it certainly was more a factor for a faded 33 year old Ali who aged considerably in this match. Marciano would dominate the late Rds for a UD.

 

I agree. Marciano was like a pitbulldog when unleashed. I was born at the beginning of Louis' reign and Rocky Marciano was oneofakind. Frazier was great, but no Marciano. Ali would fall after an absolute hammering in the 9th rd. He would look very much like he did at the end of the Holmes fight, only worse.

 

67%:deal

33% Maybe Ali can hang till the end and outpoint Rocky.

But I think, a prime Rocky vs Manilla Ali, Marciano probably would have started coming on post-round 10 (when a very good but worn Frazier began to ebb).

 

Marciano would capitalize better than Frazier did with Ali on the ropes. At the same time, even a Manilla Frazier drives Ali to the ropes just a little quicker.

I don't know if Marciano takes the same kind of damaging, flush shots that Frazier did. Not that he couldn't, I just don't think he gets hit so effectively the way Frazier was (And therefore doesn't slow down as much). Frazier was just not quite getting low enough. It's a tough call. But I tend to think Marciano at his absolute peak edges a decision.

I tend to think Max writes it well. Rocky would be ecstatic to see such a still target. Ali became infatuated with the rope-a-dope at this point, and he couldn't dance all night like the younger version of himself could.

I'll take two-handed puncher over a left hooker against a idle Ali on the ropes as well. Manilla Frazier's right hand was respectable, however.

 

I think Ali could still pull it out of the bag.
If Rocky was at his absolute best though i'd pick him to beat Ali by points but even then im not so sure