In 1970, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali got together and sparred a few rounds with cameras rolling.

Well not really.

Punch-by-punch details of the boxer's records during their prime were entered into an NCR 315 computer. Also their strengths, weaknesses, fighting styles and patterns and other factors and scenarios that the boxers could go through were converted into formulas. The NCR-315 with 20K of memory was supplied by SPS (Systems Programming Services), an independent service bureau in Miami Fla. The algorithms were supplied by an NCR mathematician, and programming was done in Fortran by an employee of SPS. Hank Meyer, President and salesman with a one other partner in SPS, was instrumental in setting this competition up, and contended at the time that it was his idea. The actual running of the software was done the night before each broadcast round of the 'computer championship' and took approximately 45 minutes to run, the ouptut was a formatted report containing a series of codes describing each punch. This was then written to magnetic tape, the tape was then manually transferred to a Univac 1005 and printed. This early form of "foot-powered" networking was referred to as sneakernet, the reason for doing this was cost, it was cheaper to print on a 1005 than the 315. This took place in early 1968; the NCR 315 was a state-of-the-art computer at the time.

The outcomes were then staged as radio plays with Woroner and radio announcer Guy LeBow as the commentators. The fantasy fights were broadcast worldwide. Even the boxers who were still alive at the time listened to the programs and some of them participated as commentators. After the series of elimination rounds, the final fight was between Dempsey and Marciano. Marciano defeated Dempsey and was considered to be the all-time greatest heavyweight champion by the computer. Woroner awarded the real Marciano a gold and diamond championship belt worth $10,000.

On January 20, 1970, the fight was shown only once in 1500 theaters over closed-circuit television in the United States, Canada, and throughout Europe. It grossed $5 million. The computer had determined that Marciano would knock Ali out in the 13th round and the film was edited to present that outcome. All prints of the fight except one were supposed to be immediately destroyed. However, many theaters played the show long after January 20th.

All excerpts are from wiki

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So what do you think would Rocky Marciano beat Muhammad Ali in a fight?

It would be close but I think Ali was a better thinker in the ring so he would have a bit of an advantage in terms of being able to use RM's weaknesses.

I think it is a bit unfair to try to match 2 different fighters of 2 different periods. the style of fighting today is even bit different than in the old school caliber. the computer assists a lot of fighters today.

..but on the other hand it was very interesting to find this because every generation especially when I talk to my dad always contemplates what if a young hey day Mike Tyson go into the ring with a younger George Foreman what would be the outcome. What about a Rocky and a Jack Johnson? Just makes you wonder. but we will never truly know.

thx for replying

but I agree I would give the edge to a younger ALI (or Cassius Clay)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_(boxer)