Think about it .. he was at his physically strongest. He was in terrific shape .. he may not have had the same legs but he was lightning fast , hitting as hard as he could ever hit, was laser sharp .. definitely has best post exile fight .. he was something ..
ALI WAS ALL YOU SAID IN THE FIRST FITE IS RIGHT ON , HE PROBBALY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME THE SECOND FITE, HAD JERRY FOUGHT BETTER, THAT HAVING HIS UNDEFEATED BROTHER MIKE VS THE GREAT LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT FOSTER DID NOT HELP MATTERS! ( REMEMBER THE GARDEN SAID NO GO!) HE WAS GONNA HAVE JERRY'S STYLE NO MATTER WHAT, HOWEVER IF NOT FOR THE DEEPEST CUT I'VE EVER SEEN, JERRY WAS ON TO MAKE THINGS INTERESTING, HIS FITE STRAT WAS THE LONGER THE BETTER, AND HE TRAINED ACCORDINGLY. As Jerry's son told me once "That fight never got started"
He was 2 lbs heavier than in 1966 against Chuvalo and 4 lbs heavier than he was against for example Terrell. So I don't see this difference in strength. And why would it matter anyhow? He was strong enough in the 60's for the strongest top HWs of that era - Chuvalo and Liston. The loss of speed and stamina in the 70's is what really made a difference. I can't see why some hypothetical extra strength of the 70's Ali is always brought up. It's boxing, not weight lifting, and anyhow he hardly gained any weight in the 70's that wasn't fat. And when was ever strength a problem for him in his 60's prime?
No Ali was never the same fighter after hie enforced break.His main asset was his speed and by that time he had definitely slowed down
You never hear that for example late 40's Louis was better because or he was stronger even though he gained more lean weight than Ali and was less reliant on his speed. Same with mid 70's Frazier. Strange thing that it for some reason would be so important for a speedster that was one of the strongest HWs of his era as it was.
One of my favorite post-break performances. He just had it all together that night and made Quarry look like a sparring partner. Man, was he pretty
No way, Ali looked sluggish in that bout, his body was softer than in his prime, he was getting caught flush while going in for the finish and his shots didn`t look that hard, his body and punches looked sharper in the Frazier rematch.
It’s been often said, he was the best pre-exile; I believe Ali said so himself. That being said, unlike other fighters in his situation, he had a Plan B - resorting to a granite chin and body, and an insane ability to absorb punishment that probably rivaled his nemesis Frazier. Unfortunately, that Plan B was also what led to the health issues that haunted him for the rest of his life post-career.
Why not? He was a lot more experienced, harder hitting and more durable. Maybe he was just in exceptional condition for Foreman but that fight he looked sharp as hell.
Every fighter is more experienced when they are close to 33 then in their mid 20's, when Ali was in his prime, but how many do you think hit their peak at this age? A handful maybe (Moore, Lewis, Hopkins, Wlad), but they are in the vast minority and none of them relied on their speed like Ali did. For the record, Ali said himself shortly after the Foreman fight that he thought 60's Ali would have beaten Foreman easier. He also didn't give much for the argument of him being stronger when older, stating that he was basically the same size.
His punches were, but I fely he always had good power, his tactics were sound but had better reflexes when he was younger and displayed better footwork.
some good points Ali may have been at his best at that point in time - experience makes a big difference and he was stronger than the younger version, maybe giving up a touch of speed but stronger mentally and the experience factor - he grant has a good point
