Expert: Lian Shoemake - 9/28/2006

Question
who was a better boxer MUHAMMAD ALI or Rocky marceiono and if the were able to fight who would win.  

Answer
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the questions.
I'll preface my response by disclosing that I've always been a huge fan of Muhammad Ali, so consider that bias.
Having said that, anyone's answer to these questions would be purely speculative.
So, in my mind's eye, a prime Muhammad Ali (mid-1960's to early 70's) would have been able to outbox a prime Rocky Marciano(early 1950's), using his superior size, speed and athleticism to win comfortably. Remember, Marciano was a very small heavyweight, only about 5'9" and weighing in the 180's. Ali was 6'3", around 215 lbs. in his prime, and possessed skills and athletic ability that surpassed anyone Marciano faced in his career.
And to address your first question, though Marciano retired undefeated, I don't see that his accomplishments matched those of Ali, who reigned twice as champion in the greatest era of heavyweights in boxing history (Foreman, Frazier three times, Norton three times, Shavers, Lyle, Liston twice, etc.).
Hope that helps, Bob.

Thanks again for writing!

Regards,
Lian