Would a 60s Ali be able to dance around the ring all night against a prime Foreman?

No. He couldn't dance around another George all night......another George by the name of Chuvalo. He'd have to stop at som

 

I think Ali could do it most of the bout. I think that Foreman would tire out and get stopped just like in Zaire, but Ali didn't have a lot of experience in wars in the 60s, whereas he did when he faced Foreman in Zaire, therefore, I think Ali would be much more vulnerable in the 60s.

 

Muhammad Ali just did not have the stamina that he did in 1967, look what the Rope A Dope did to him neurologically in his later years, not worth it to not be able to talk again.

 

Agreed. Ali won the battle, Foreman won the war.

 

Ali in the 60s was more than just a dancer. He was a punishing fighter too. He would be hurting and slowing down Foreman while he was dancing. The pace of the fight would have slowed for both fighters as they tired. Ali still would have stayed one step ahead of George all night, though, IMO. If George rushed him too aggressively, Ali had the reflexes and speed to catch him with a solid shot as he came in. Foreman would have been Ali's most formidable opponent, but I think Muhammad would have won, maybe by a knockout. It wouldn't have been a lock, however.

 

I think what we saw of Ali against Cleveland Williams wouldn't be too far away from prime Foreman, except of course Foreman was a better fighter (and Williams was a bit past his prime).

I think George would have landed more shots than Williams of course, but I just don't see him landing flush much. Foreman would try to cut the ring off, and he might even knock Ali down with a hook...naw, I can't see that, either.

George would have been psyched-out, hopelessly outmaneuvered, beat to the punch AND outpunched. All he really knew was how to seek and destroy, moving forward...Ali seemed to LOVE guys like that.

After 8 rounds Foreman would look worse than Zaire, like something out of Night of the Living Jethro. He'd be swoll up worse than against Stewart.

Bottom line is, George gets knocked down and stopped in 9 at the latest, he was far too slow and lumbering.

I respect the argument given in the topic, but just watch prime Ali. Foreman was tailor made for him back then. I think guys like Louis, Holmes, and Frazier would have been the only guys to give him any real trouble. Maybe Marciano....maybe.

 

Ali would have danced circles around George Foreman, Ali was very vulnerable in the 1970's where he was not in the years, 1964-1967. Do you think that Ali would be neurologically damaged in his prime years? compared to what the Rope a Dope would affect him much later, let someone pound on your arms and head for 8 rounds, see how you come out of that kind of exchange, if you can talk like before. Prime Ali vs Foreman of 1974 would look like the first Liston fight in 1964.

 

Ali said that Marciano would have probably given him the most trouble. He said he thought Rocky was better than Joe Frazier. A swarmer always creates problems for the boxer...the boxer maybe not be able to dictate the tempo.

 

I see what you're saying, but I still can't agree. I believe part of Ali's victory over Foreman was due to tough battles with Chuvalo (66), Bonavena, Frazier, and Norton, and combined with his intelligence and ability, won the fight. It's true that Ali was far less likely to get tagged in the 60s, but I think if he was tagged, the results would be much worse for him due to inexperience in wars.

 

He had had some tough moments. Against Dough Jones and Cooper, and let's not forget the 5th round against Liston.

 

He tried to a rope-a-dop George a bit in the second round, but otherwise moved for the duration of the fight. This after a 17 days camp.

 

That is your opinion but it shows your lack of boxing knowledge, Ali in the 1960's especially his first title reign had tons more stamina than either version of George Foreman. Sure he stood and fought Chuvalo both times, but he did not in his other 8 title defenses against others.

 

That's what I call Ali's "tough" 60s fights. I also think the first Chuvalo fight prepared Ali for future punishment to the body vs. Frazier, Norton, and Foreman in the years to come. However, most of Ali's tough fights came in the 70s.

 

I never said Ali had better stamina in the 70s? Cuz it ain't true. What's Foreman got to do with it? My whole point about what I said is not that Ali was more vulnerable in the 60s, because he wasn't, he did have better stamina, movement, and speed, and was nearly untouchable. What I mean, is I don't think Ali could take punishment as badly then as later due to so many easy fights.