I think what is so remarkable is that this computer-fight was so huge an event, that many people thought that this was the real deal, that Ali and Marciano had actually fought one another in secret.
There were write-ups in the newspapers that Marciano was getting back into physical condition, that he was looking good, and that Ali was looking good, and there was even people and critics betting who would win this fight. It is amazing that the interest in an Ali-Marciano bout was so huge, two undefeated champions, one of whom won the "All-Time" title in a computer series and the other disliked it. What maybe all the more amazing is, considering how old Marciano was, and people were thinking this was a legit fight, there were people who actually gave Marciano a great chance at beating Ali, who was 27, before he ever faced Frazier and Foreman and Norton.
Looking back on it all, I do think it could have been highly possible to of had an actual bout staged; if only people would have realised that the state of Georgia had no Athletic Commission at the time (that's how Ali was able to fight Jerry Quarry in 1970, as Ali was banned from fighting anywhere that had an athletic commision).
If Ali had knocked Marciano's wig off one more time
I am dead certain that Marciano would have swore revenge and would have tried to have made it happen. Though I don't think Marciano at 46 would of had a great chance to have beaten Ali---though if there ever was a time to have done it, it would have been during Ali's exile.
Watching the SUPERFIGHT, even though the two men were more or less sparring, you could tell that Ali was having problems keeping Marciano off, and there were moments that both men were really throwing hard and fast punches at their bodies and heads---and it does make you wonder, that if Marciano at 46 could get close enough to Ali to have hit him with several body punches and that Ali had trouble trying to hit him cleanly, what could a prime Marciano do?
To Ali's own statements he couldn't imagine how strong Marciano could have been in his prime, as the 46 year old man before him bruised and battered his elbows, chest and arms so badly---and they were just sparring for a computer fight.
Then of course there is the wig story, as to where Woroner and Pacheco claim that Ali was dropped to the floor by a real body shot, while others say that Marciano just doubled Ali over---irregardless it is a testament to Marciano's power, that even at 46, he could hurt someone badly if he could get close enough to them.
But that's what really surprises me, is that in 1969, people thought that this was the real thing, and that many people betted on Marciano to win an actual fight with Ali, irregardless of the great age difference.
It's an amazing story.
never heard that one, considering neither man knew the outcome of the fight until January 20th, 1969. Marciano had already been killed in a plane crash months before the computer fight ever was released, so...dunno how that would have came about.
