A question I've mulled over a long while. Ali, in his losing fight against Joe Frazier.. How would he do against Joe Louis, a couple of years in to his champion reign? One of the reasons, if not the main, was because of Frazier s swarming style, non stop, in his face. So is this a winnable fight for Ali despite being only a couple of fights back in?
Not sure he'd lose by stoppage. Even tho Louis hit like a killer, I still see Ali getting to the end.
I think '71 Ali would be able to outbox Louis. Too fast, mobile, just as strong. Ali wouldn't need to go to the ropes with Louis because The Brown Bomber isn't going to be able to apply pressure the same way Smokin Joe did. Muhammad would be able to build a lead on the cards,, rest a couple rounds with his jab, perhaps stop Louis 11th or 12th.
FOTC Ali gets underrated IMO. And 67 Ali overrated. Yeah, he could get it done and given that Louis would always catch up to him at some point 71 Ali might be better qualified to deal. I would pick Louis, but Ali could definitely beat him. Strategically it is fascinating, absolutely fascinating that fight.
It's Ali's lack of defence that more than likely loses him this fight. The shots he'd take off 'old slow Joe' would weaken him and have him lose rounds.
Ali got tagged alot by Frazier because of the way Joe bobbed and weaved coming in, he was able to exploit a blind spot with that hook. Ali was still a tough target to land a right hand on from a standup boxer like Louis..
Same here, John. Younger Ali has the speed to win it imo. By the Frazier fight, a lot of that, as we know, had gone.
I agree bud, he's still gonna be hard to hit clean, but it's over the length of the fight that I see him getting hit more often. Ali perhaps gets a little to confident too. A bit of the Jersey Joe Walcott, hit me if you can!
I think the younger versions wheels would have been the difference. If he got into trouble i think he'd have got out of it. That lightning right hand counter over the jab would have been a real danger to Louis too. In fact i'd be a long way from surprised if Ali dumped him at some point.
Me too tbh. There's not many heavyweight s that beat that Ali. So bloody fast, reflexes, confidence. THAT Ali is a different kettle of fish!
