Seeing as Gene is getting his props from a few in my other thread, lets step it up a notch. 15rds prime for prime. I see an Ali decision most likely, although if Tunney called him Clay , then he is not going the full distance.
Gene was cerebral fighter but no matter what strategy Gene brought in Ali fight Ali would be too quick. Ali hand and foot speed too fast for Gene. Ali on pts.
This would be Ali vs Young again, but Tunney, who was stronger, smarter and fitter than Young, gives Ali an even more decisive boxing lesson.
Why Ali of the Young fight?. We are going prime v prime here don't forget. I can't envisage Jimmy Young doing so well against '67 Ali....can you?
Sure. Consider the way Ali struggled against Jones, Cooper in the first fight and Mildenberger. His opponents in those days were sub-par, i.e. Brian London for Pete's sake! The Ali who lost to Frazier was probably the best version of Ali.
Ok so now you go to the opposite end of the scale with Jones and Cooper when Ali was what? 21?. Now lets talk about Tunney.....name me the best Black 210lb prime heavyweight he beat please
By the time he fought Joe he had been in the ring with two contenders, Quarry and Bonavena. The version that fought Frazier in 71 was stronger than the 60s version. Nothing wrong here, I just don't go along with the false narrative about Ali or anything else for that matter.
u are referring to the pace of his comeback. the pace of his comeback doesnt deter from the 3 year layoff. u r arguing that he must have been better by beating oscar and quarry. but you re ignoring that he was simply that good to being with. Oscar and Jerry were good contenders, but he beat champs earlier. He was simply that good before, not better after. u r reversing the facts.
You are saying that the Ali who won a questionable decision over Jones, almost got knocked out by Cooper, was involved in two suspicious fights with an over the hill Liston, defended against washed up Williams, Folley and pathetic London was somehow better than a bigger, stronger more mature version of himself? We are not talking Jeffries here who was too old and 100 pounds overweight.
Come off it. Is this kind of prejudiced argument going to be used against black heavyweights of our day if they never fight eastern Europeans or Russians? Enough of this foolishness.
I now honestly have to question whether your low rating of Ali has anything to do with his boxing ability.