Fights with the biggest skill differences

You can tell in the Ali-Chuvalo rematch, Ali was not the same fighter he was pre-exile. Chuvalo said this himself, that the '72 Ali was far inferior.

 

That’s an excellent point and one that is perfect to introduce when some people inexplicably argue against how much post exile Ali had actually lost from his prime form.

As the other rematched opponent, crossed over from pre to post exile, it would’ve been interesting to have heard Floyd Patterson’s impressions in that regard after facing Ali in 72 also,

A bit more complicated to analyse given Patterson’s back issues in the first fight and Ali was perhaps a little bit chill in the rematch but until the badly cut eye, Floyd did do so much better in the rematch, not least for Ali’s reduced mobility and degraded reflexes.

Floyd in his own right, in terms of condition and retention of skills, was quite amazing at age 37.

 

Interestingly enough, Floyd said the same thing! I'll try to find what he said.

 

Here's Chuvalo's quote:
When Ali and I met again, in 1972, he wasn’t the same fighter. There were a few sports writers who actually thought I won the rematch, but when I tell that story now people laugh. In the second fight his speed and skills had diminished slightly and he wasn’t as consistent with his work.


It's in an excellent article which I think you'll enjoy! https://www.ringtv.com/327215-best-ive-faced-george-chuvalo/

 

Wilfred Benitez in 77 as champion fought a debuting fighter. Sometimes you keep the engine warm with a Yldirim, stay relevant and active then other guys just execute debuting sub 10 fight guys... even in the "Golden age"

 

Thanks! You call up the hard evidence in quick time! Great stuff, very much appreciated.

I remember reading Chuvalo’s opinion on post exile Ali years ago - the refresh will be good. Hadn’t read anything on Floyd’s opinion - that will be interesting. I think it was observed and/or George also said it himself that he did better in the rematch due to his making more use of his own jab - “more” meaning he actually bothered to use one (jk), LOL, probably also there was no point trying to jab the more fleet footed and evasive 60s version of Ali, post exile Muhammad being that much more hittable.

 

Yeah Chuvalo mentioned that as well "He was just so damn fast. When he was young, he moved his legs and hands at the same time. He threw his punches when he was in motion. He'd be out of punching range, and as he moved into range he'd already begun to throw the punch. So if you waited until he got into range to punch back, he beat you every time."

 

Eubank-Thompson I & II. It was just size, weight and half-blindness that made them competitive after 5-6 rounds.

 

Toney-Barkley is an obvious one for me.

 

He wasn't the same fighter for fighting someone like Chuvalo. I would say he was a better fighter for facing someone like Foreman or Frazier.

 

I disagree. I don't think he'd intentionally slow down, and use less of his skills against Chuvalo. Especially when he didn't do it, 6 years prior during their first bout.

Even Frazier conceded, the Ali he beat wasn't the same guy he was four years earlier (though he still would've "licked" even that version according to him).

 

Just read the article and I did (enjoy it!).

Great , intelligent insights from someone who was actually inside the ring against these guys. I also appreciated his respectful take on Norton who he didn’t face.

Funny, George did make ref. to the success of his jab (at least until he stopped using it at the mid way point) in the Ali rematch.

Didn’t know about his beloved granddaughter passing away at just 30 yo from cancer. Jeeze, how much family death/tragedy can one man take?

 

But canelo had the nerve to make it a PPV fight lol. I know not every bout is going to be some glorious gladiator event against the best competition.

 

Someone else pointed me to this a while back - an audience with Ali, British, hosted by Dickie Davies. During the show Ali states that his younger, prime self would’ve had that much an easier time with Foreman. I agree. Sorry, haven’t got the chance to scan and time mark the moment but it is there.

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The only 70s opponent I’ve read Ali give advantage over his younger self was Norton. It was in a 70s boxing mag. in which Ali stated that Norton would’ve eaten up the young Ali. I think the article was written while Ali trained for the Norton rematch.

I disagree with Ali, LOL, Norton would’ve still presented some niggly problems for prime Ali but I see a faster, better reflexed and perpetually mobile Ali having that much of an easier time with Ken.

 

Yeah... Can't not make it a big event when it's Nelo. Could give us it for free?