`The Super Fight` was a fictional 1969 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano. At the time, Ali and Marciano were the only undefeated heavyweight champions in history and fans often d...
`The Super Fight` was a fictional 1969 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano. At the time, Ali and Marciano were the only undefeated heavyweight champions in history and fans often debated who would win had they met in their primes. Ali and Marciano were filmed acting out every possible scenario in a fight and the result was then determined using probability formulas entered into a computer. The final fight was only shown once in selected cinemas around the world and later released as a DVD. In 1967, radio producer Murray Woroner had the idea of determining the all-time great heavyweight champion of the world in a series of fantasy fights between boxing champions of different eras. Woroner sent out a survey to 250 boxing experts and writers to help determine which boxers would be used in the imaginary fights. Woroner picked the first round of fantasy matches to be: Jack Dempsey vs. Gentleman Jim Corbett John L. Sullivan vs. Jim Braddock Bob Fitzsimmons vs. Jack Sharkey Jim Jeffries vs. Jersey Joe Walcott Joe Louis vs. Jess Willard Max Baer vs. Jack Johnson Rocky Marciano vs. Gene Tunney Muhammad Ali vs. Max Schmeling 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 was 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. Ali was angered over his loss to Jim Jeffries in the fantasy fights and sued Woroner for $1 million for defamation of character. The lawsuit was settled when Woroner offered to pay Ali $10,000 to participate in a filmed version of his radio fantasy fights in which Ali would fight Marciano. Ali, who had been stripped of his heavyweight title and American boxing license three years prior, agreed on the condition that he would also receive a cut of the film's profits. Marciano also agreed to participate with a similar deal. The same formulas were used again and entered into the NCR 315. In 1969, filming began in a Miami studio. Marciano, who had been retired for almost 13 years, lost over 50 pounds and wore a toupee in order to look as he did in his prime. Even for a "fake" fight, Marciano and Ali really looked forward to meeting each other and getting back in the ring.
The two fighters sparred for about 70 to 75 rounds, which were later spliced together according to the computer's findings which had not yet been determined. Every probable scenario was filmed. The final outcome would not be revealed to anyone until the release of the film. Braddock, Louis, Schmeling, Sharkey and Walcott also recorded commentary to be used in the film. Marciano died in a plane crash three weeks after filming wrapped [1]. 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, per Woroner's stipulation. However, many theaters played the show long after January 20th.
After watching the film, Ali reportedly said "That computer was made in Alabama," joking that Marciano was favored because he was white.
Like to rate videos and let people know what you think?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
Like to share videos with friends?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
Ali would have won BUT...can you imagine what Foreman would have done to Marciano? The Rock would have looked worse than Frazier---styles make fights and anyone who argues with this needs a boxing history lesson.
6 oz. fight gloves were the norm back in 50's, I guess a big part of all this "arm beating" talk, funny I didn't see a lot or next to none of the famed "arm beating" in the Marciano vs LaStarza title match. Maybe it that ever thing that Rocky did was talked up and blown up. Rex Layne gets time delayed KO'ed with a right to the temple and people start the story he had 3 teeth sheared off at the gums by it, now that's a really good trick.
Rocky Marciano would have been blown out of the water in one round against Foreman, Marcaino was tiny for a heavyweight and would have no advantages over Foreman other than stamina and defence. Foreman had just as hard a chin, a harder punch, probably better speed, better footwork and height, weight and reach advantages.
Actually no, Muhammad Ali is his real name and I would like YOU to go up to a prime Muhammad Ali and call him Clay. I'm sorry was that Rocky Marciano you called him? I thought his name was more on the lines of Rocco Marchegiano wasn't it? And was Sugar Ray Robinson's real name not Walker Smith Jr.? Jersey Joe Walcott was Arnold Raymond Cream was he not? NO!!!! They changed their names and so did Muhammad, in 1964, that was 45 years ago!! He was Clay for 22 years, Ali for 45 so call him Ali.
@mangr12 i couldnt agree more, i keep saying ali was also great but so many misguided dudes think its offensive to ali to say marciano was ALSO the real mccoy. this film is a piece of crap but i wont have people say marciano was not real or that his career was padded. its lunacy, i have studdied the entire 1948-55era and all roads lead to marciano in clarifying who was best OF THAT TIME. too many facts to back that up but still they persist.
@pugcat glad you agree that liston only knocked out guys who were already scared of him, lighter, had already been knocked out and that he did smear ilegal stuff into at least 3 opponents eyes. I agree liston looked great walking through THOSE guys like nothing.
there is this awesome video on youtube " marciano underrated defense highlights" that shows very well how wrong one is when call Marciano "easy to hit"
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
Oh yea also it is actually your Presidents which should have said that to the families.