OT Spinoff from Tyson v. Lee - Marciano-Ali - in their prime, who you got?

Marciano

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Ali just a slight edge and that's only because Marciano had no experience (that I know of) with Ali's style of "float-sting" coupled with Ali's reach.

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I think Ali's strategy would be to keep his distance with the jab and try to close Rocky's eyes and/or open up his nose.

Marciano had a unique boxing style - none - so he would have just put his head down, move forward and throw really, really hard punches - he did this in 100% of his professional fights.

Someone once wrote something to the effect, "How demoralizing it must have been to fight Rocky Marciano - knowing that, from the time the bell rang, until the round ended, he was going to be on you, throwing hard punches - and there was nothing in the world you could do about it?"

If Tyson was still with Cus D'Amato he'd be hard to beat. He was a good defensive fighter with Cus. After that, he got hit a lot.

Marciano was about 188 in his prime. He would stand no to little chance against a 45 pound heavier and much taller Ali. The entire fight would hinge on Marciano cornering Ali and keeping him there for a ko. With Clay's superior footwork that is not likely to happen.

Today Marciano would compete as a cruiserweight, and with modern training would likely be a champ. Ali would probably be heaviweight champ. And each of those divisions would be better for it.

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Marciano was about 188 in his prime. He would stand no to little chance against a 45 pound heavier and much taller Ali.

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Ali talks to Cosell about Rocky

Ali had the reach and was amazingly fast.

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Ali had the reach and was amazingly fast.

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No question, but like I said earlier - fighters who were more similar to Marciano - Frazier and Norton, most notably, tended to give Ali the biggest problems - other tall, upright "boxers" tended to wither in front of Ali, who was exceptionally long, as well as fast as you suggest.

It is easy to forget, especially if you see the pictures of young Cassius Clay at the Olympics that Ali fought as a professional, typically 215 and all the way up to 239 (although the sweet spot was probably right at 220) - which makes a lot of the film of the great fights even more impressive - that's 6'3", 6'4", or so, 220 pounds moving that well. To quote Smokin' Joe, "People forget, that's a big man." So, Rocky would be giving up potentially 30+ pounds to Ali, who was, unquestionably a faster, more agile fighter, who also possessed knockout power (albeit in combinations), taller, heavier and with better offensive and defensive boxing skills. That's a tall order for even the Brockton Bomber.

I just found it interesting the respect that Ali had for Marciano, as opposed to Frazier - he told Cosell he thought Marciano was better than Frazier, and noted he (Ali) barely got past Frazier a couple of times.

I also like the quote where Ali says, "You can't teach kids to fight like Marciano fought." However, that's probably true of Ali - the most complete heavyweight boxer - perhaps only lacking one-punch knockout power to be unquestioned as the GOAT (despite the self-applied moniker). Tall, quick, with quick hands, quick feet - really the whole range of punches, lateral movement, head movement and a great brain for the sport.

Louis perhaps is next in line, good size for his day - and he could adjust from a boxing style to a slugging style, with great power, great defensive skills. Johnson and Sullivan were great, but it is difficult to go back that far.

The swarmers tend to be popular, though. I certainly like them - Dempsey, Marciano, Patterson, Frazier, Tyson - the best defense is a good offense.