Ali has torn apart the psyches of some of the most fearless men in the world, and his Xbox 360 incarnation captures that well in Fight Night Round 4 from EA Sports. I, for one, will not judge you harshly for employing a bit of trickery on the "King of the Rope-A-Dope" achievement. In the options menu you can change the number of rounds in the fight from ten to one, and the round time from two minutes to one. Outboxing Ali is much easier in a single round. You don't even to have outbox him the entire round. If you can knock him down without kissing the canvas yourself, you'll outscore him in the round. Mike Tyson is great for this because of his ridiculous power and penchant for quick knockdowns. It may take several tries, but it's the easiest way.
If you're an achievement purist and want to fight for 10 rounds, I understand. But you still want to play for the knockout because it's infinitely easier than trying to outpoint "The Greatest." In this battle, counter punching will be your greatest ally. Counter punches do more damage than regular blows and often lead to stunning your opponent. Stuns lead to knockdowns. As I mentioned earlier, you can steal rounds by knocking down Ali and then going defensive so as to get knocked down yourself. For the longer and more honest route to the achievement, big George Foreman is more suited. Foreman has an extremely high block rating and a long reach, making it harder for Ali to play keep away as he loves to do.
I recommend making Ali come to you. Let him go aggressive so you get more counter opportunities. The camera will pan in close when an opponent has left himself open and that's when you need to tag him. Ali also a tendency you can exploit. Even on the game's highest setting, Ali can't resist going for his signature "Ali Shuffle." This gives you a chance to set up your counter, or if you prefer just pop him with the punch of your choice during his lengthy animation. If you need a breather, the Shuffle also allows you time to back up or go for a clinch to regain some of your health.
Even if you take the easy one-round route to the achievement, fighting Ali for 10 rounds is a great way to perfect your in ring techniques. Who better to learn from than the Greatest of All Time?
Want more Fight Night Round 4 information? Check out these awesome EA Sports articles here on the Console Channel:
Fight Night Round 4 Review
Fight Night Round 4 Online Modes
Fight Night Round 4: Cheats and Unlockables