Worst fighter who could beat Ali if he just kept rematching him over and over?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by cross_trainer, Feb 2, 2022.


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  1. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Ali is in his early prime. The fighter of your choice is also in his early prime.

    Starting in 1964, your fighter and Ali will keep fighting rematch after rematch, every 4 months, until Ali loses.

    There will be no exile. Both your fighter AND Ali will age and accumulate wear and tear like any other fighters. (They aren't magically rejuvenated or anything.) Ali will retire around the time he did in real life; say, 1980-81. Your fighter will retire at whatever age he did in real life as well.

    Who is the worst heavyweight who could pull off a win before one of the two retires?
     
    cross_trainer, Feb 2, 2022
    cross_trainer, Feb 2, 2022
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  2. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    There are a couple directions you can go with this.

    First, you could pick a puncher who might have a good chance in 1/10 fights (or so) to KO Ali. Somebody like Tyson. Sure, Tyson would age even faster than Ali, but you're hoping that he catches Ali before that happens -- in the first 2-3 years of their rivalry.

    Even here, though, you're going to want a mentally strong guy who can endure frequent failure. So it's no easy task.

    There's probably going to be a second school of thought that wants to wear Ali down. I don't think this is going to work. Ali remained in decent form at least until 1974. That's 10 years your guy is going to have to age better than Ali. Not many fighters have that kind of prime. Maybe Foreman, ironically.

    You might also pick guys who beat the 70s Ali, like Frazier and Norton. But then there's the whole question of whether Ali would adapt from fight to fight, and whether they could've beaten the prime version anyway.

    And then there's the talent gap: You're trying to pick the worst possible guy to pull it off. Which makes things more complicated.
     
    cross_trainer, Feb 2, 2022
    cross_trainer, Feb 2, 2022
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  3. Showstopper97

    Showstopper97 The Icon Full Member

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    Randall "Tex" Cobb
     
    Showstopper97, Feb 2, 2022
    Showstopper97, Feb 2, 2022
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  4. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Is his plan to pulverize Ali's fists with his face?

    Ali and Holmes are similar enough to me that if one of them easily beats a given fighter, the other one can too.

    Cobb couldn't touch Holmes. It was the most lopsided fight I've seen that didn't end in a KO. A 1964 Ali? Good lord.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2022
    Barrf, Feb 2, 2022
    Barrf, Feb 2, 2022
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  5. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Cooper might be a good pick since he might well have KO'd Ali for real had Ali's corner not allegedly stepped in with some dodgy antics.

    That said any fighter with good speed, accuracy and pop might be a pick. Eventually the odds are that Ali loses concentration for a moment and gets tagged. You'd need to be a good finisher too. Hell, maybe Marciano would be a decent pick if they have to rematch over and over. Marciano put a LOT of miles on all of his opponents.
     
    BCS8, Feb 2, 2022
    BCS8, Feb 2, 2022
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  6. djanders

    djanders Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I'm not sure he's the worst one who could accomplish this task, but Floyd Patterson immediately sprung to my mind. Floyd, in his prime, could probably last 12 rounds with Ali often, and I think his hand speed would get him a decision win eventually.

    If I think of someone worse, who could do it, I'll come back.
     
    djanders, Feb 2, 2022
    djanders, Feb 2, 2022
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  7. CleneloAnavarez

    CleneloAnavarez Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Bad choice. Mike beats beats Ali most of the time.
     
    CleneloAnavarez, Feb 2, 2022
    CleneloAnavarez, Feb 2, 2022
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  8. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    I could see a durable guy like Chuvalo or McCall eventually beating Ali through sheer attrition wittling away at his fists with their cinder block skulls. By the 5th or 6th match, Ali would be mentally and physically exhausted and his hands would be in horrible shape. Ali would have to fight in spurts relying heavily on flicking punches and flurries with tons of movement to win rounds convincingly. At some point he loses.
     
    Glass City Cobra, Feb 2, 2022
    Glass City Cobra, Feb 2, 2022
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  9. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    Carl "The Truth" Williams

    6-4 rangy, outstanding Jab, good right hand. His weakness of chin especially to lefthooks would not come into play here as much.
     
    ETM, Feb 2, 2022
    ETM, Feb 2, 2022
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  10. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I'm sure Harry Greb would outwork Ali at some point.
     
    70sFan865, Feb 2, 2022
    70sFan865, Feb 2, 2022
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  11. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s Full Member

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    The worst guy... Hm I’ll take with no attempt to insult the man ,Jimmy Young. He’d age better had the mental toughness to fail often and could steal rounds and drag Ali out of his style kicking and screaming lol. Thorough neither man would sell a single ticket after the first two fights...
     
    Journeyman92, Feb 2, 2022
    Journeyman92, Feb 2, 2022
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  12. Showstopper97

    Showstopper97 The Icon Full Member

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    He could outwork a post 75 Ali (like Leon did in I). Cobb was big, tall, had a granite chin, good punching-power, & an insane work-rate & gas tank. That alone is enough to beat post 75 Ali (who was now flat-footed, easy to hit & laid on the ropes alot).
     
    Showstopper97, Feb 2, 2022
    Showstopper97, Feb 2, 2022
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  13. Entaowed

    Entaowed Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Cobb had an insane work rate? No, at best good-just for a HW.
    But if you move it to post Shavers Ali I will agree with you.
     
    Entaowed, Feb 2, 2022
    Entaowed, Feb 2, 2022
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  14. grantsorenson

    grantsorenson Member Full Member

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    Probably have to pick a limited puncher here like Shavers.
     
    grantsorenson, Feb 2, 2022
    grantsorenson, Feb 2, 2022
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  15. michael mullen

    michael mullen Active Member Full Member

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    The winner!!! End of thread.
     
    michael mullen, Feb 2, 2022
    michael mullen, Feb 2, 2022
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