From a technical perspective I think these probably are Ali's most well-rounded efforts. The body punching was as absent as always, but otherwise there weren't much of the flaws one typically associates with Ali. Even though he was physically pretty far from his prime (especially for the Norton rubber), I really like these two performances. Tactically smart as well, apart from rds 5 and 6 against Norton, which Ali basically threw away.
I thought he was pretty much the same fighter in both of these bouts and while many saw the second Norton go as even I had Ali a fairly clean winner. Joe had his style changed by Futch to attempt not taking as many punches but it cut down his punching rate way too much and Ali holding behind his neck stopped his body punching. Ali was in good shape for both, had spring in his legs and seemed to hurt Joe in the second round.
I think he lost something in Manilla. Less speed and pop to his punches for one thing afterwards. But the Norton rubber was his best performance post Manilla by some distance. He clearly was in top shape.
I never saw Ali throw more punches than in Manila. He was reeling off 20 punch combos like they were nothing. Don't know if they kept punch stats back then, but that had to have been his highest output ever and by a long shot. Not nearly as much punching in the Norton fight
It is the highest combined number ever recorded for a HW title fight I believe. Holy-Bowe has the highest on a per round basis. That two guys past their prime could produce those numbers in that heat is unbeliavable. I would think that Joe threw the majority of punches, though. Ali rested through extended periods of several rounds. Joe came on the whole time. In the Norton rubber, I think Ali did a very good job at keeping the pace down. Better than in the first two fights.
