you may think Ali is the goat head to head , and he may well be. But I am a believer that there is always someone out there who will have your number , whether they are from your era or not is a debate and styles make fights. That said , who would have presented Ali with the worst style match up ? I think three off the top of my head are Lennox Lewis , Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko. I think Vitality with his size would present a lot of trouble too , but he’s not as fast as Wlad or Fury.
None of your 3 choices can match Ali's prime speed and ring IQ. Check Ali's resume first before starting this type of thread please. Better yet, watch his Videos. Epic failed ....
Lennox Lewis, Joe Louis and Mike Tyson would be the three worst matchups for prime Ali. All 3 had exceptional footwork (not quite as good as Ali but close), more power than Ali, in the case of Tyson and Louis they were nearly as fast, Lennox had a longer reach and arguably a better jab and 1-2.
It’s possible Ken Norton had the style to give Ali problem at any point in his career. I would also say Larry Holmes would match up well with Ali both in style and in ring IQ.
Wrong!! Tyson's and Frazier's fighting styles are totally different. Frazier was an up close in your face in-fighter, where as Tyson's in-fighting skills were average at best. Tyson did his damage mid-distance, somewhat on his way to close the distance, but once there he wasn't a bobber and weaver like Frazier who could ride with incoming shots and land his own digging debilitating shots on the inside. Frazier had success against Ali because he targeted his chest and body, trying to get a clean shot off on Ali without targeting and debilitating the body would be almost impossible for short guys like Frazier and Tyson. Just look at Tyson's fights with Holyfield, Tyson had some success on his bulrushes into Holyfield, but once inside, Holyfield had more skill and know how on the inside than Tyson did as Hollyfield would tie Tyson up to stop him from getting room to punch and then would do a number on Tyson on the very inside after stopping Tyson's forward progress. Ali was a master at the clinch and would dismantle Tyson in a similar way Holyfield did.
Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, and Ken Norton. Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Larry Holmes, Klitschko bros. I could see posing some interesting problems for him as well. I could also see Rocky Marciano, Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, and Jersey Jow Walcott posing some issues.
I agree Tyson and Frazier styles are different I think what made Joe so difficult was his mad insane workrate- he never stopped - never gave Ali a chance to breath Tyson would fight full on rounds 1-3 but after that Ali would have plenty of opportunities to pick him off with jabs and superior movement and clinches- frustrate Tyson, talk **** to him and destroy him mentally- result TKO or disqualification. Ali couldn't stop Frazier with mind games
Norton is a classic example of styles making fights. Always giving Ali hell yet caving in when pushed back by a huge puncher like shavers foreman Rooney...
Prime Ali was before the suspension and the first Frazier fight. I think a Jimmy Young spoiler-type fighter would be the toughest opponent for a prime Ali.
Ha,ha,ha,ha,,,that's a good one. Mike would looking for his mouth piece again around the 10th with his head looking like it had been in a hornets nest. Buster times 2.
