Physically stronger: Muhammad Ali or Jack Johnson?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Shake, Apr 18, 2013.


  1. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    A very interesting question ... Johnson's strength was legendary and in prime condition he was a physical specimen but against small men and an old Jeffries I never saw a ton of it in the ring ... Ali's strength is vastly under rated by many as he is best known for his other gifts .. I have no idea who was stronger but for anyone who questons Ali just look at round 1 v.s. Bonavena, himself a bull, and watch Ali throw him around the ring ..

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMrJEloGGao
     
  2. ripcity

    ripcity Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Who wins a weightlifting contest? How else would we know who's stronger? Muhammad Ali or Jack Johnson?. I don't know who wins. They're not weightlifters.
     
  3. tommygun711

    tommygun711 The Future Full Member

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    They still tried to fight on the inside at spots. Anyone would at least TRY the inside against Ali. If you aren't impressed by Foreman or Liston, look at Bonavena. They should be more than enough.
     
  4. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    In a weight-lifting contest, who the F knows.

    As for functional strength inside the ring, Ali is at least easily more proven. He fought a lot of strong HWs and was never bullied around - not even by Foreman. You also have opponents that testified about his strength. Not least Norton, a quite strong specimen himself.
     
  5. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    :deal
     
  6. dyna

    dyna Boxing Junkie banned

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    Know what kind of wood Johnson is carrying?
    Not all wood is the same wood.

    I could easily carry a chunk like that if it's balsa.
    Nothing special, I can even take two of those chunks.

    But damned if it's a chunk of Lignum Vitae which can be up to 30 times as heavy as balsa wood (same sized chunks) (It's also denser than water)
     
  7. dyna

    dyna Boxing Junkie banned

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    Foreman certainly carries more weight than Johnson wood pic.
    (Cow is bigger in volume, and also denser than the woodchunk since mammals are generally denser than your average wood, big amounts of waterweight etc.)

    Still couldn't manhandle Ali
     
  8. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    When the F did foreman try and "manhandle" Ali.. Jesus Fing Christ.. People act like Foreman's game was manhandling people and throwing them around the ring and he couldn't against Ali. HE NEVER TRIED such tactics with anybody really. So when again, he doesn't try it with Ali, people go see... he couldn't manhandle him... HUGE FACEPALM. I never once saw Foreman try and physcially manhandle Ali nor do any clinch work. I'm STILL waiting on all this manhandling Ali does of bigger men?
     
  9. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Archie Moore certainly saw it. From Foreman's corner.
     
  10. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Good point about Ken Norton. Ken once said that even though George Foreman and Earnie Shavers were the hardest punchers he faced,Muhammad Ali was actually the strongest. He said that hitting Ali to the body was like punching cement.
     
  11. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    People keep citing the foreman match.. WHen did foreman try and manhandle ali and was unable to? **** when did Ali manhandle foreman at all?
     
  12. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I've no idea who was stronger.
    Ali was a very strong individual, Joe Hess the karate guy commented on his strength.

    Thirty seven years old Johnson showed he could still hold his own with a giant , and was in front after 20 rounds .

    Its a misconception that Johnson only fought small guys, the average height of his challengers was 6'1" ,and around 195lbs.
    He man handled Moran, Kaufman , McVey, Ferguson,and McGlaglen, all of them were big men .
     
  13. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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  14. Shake

    Shake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    22 to 12. Close but clear in favor of Ali. Thanks for the input and discussion, Classic!
     
  15. doug.ie

    doug.ie 'Classic Boxing Society' Full Member

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    i think johnson was 'stronger'
    but ali was tougher