Ok I’m going to move away from Conn and Louis and back to a 160lb fighter beating Ali. Or not. And for the purposes of clarity, I’m talking about a 160lb in the ring MW beating Ali…not a 160lb on the scales, then rehydrating to some huge figure like 180. Nah, I’ll stick to the figure mentioned…160 v Ali. Ali being let’s say 210-215. Ok first of all I have to establish, does size matter…I say it is a factor…not the be all or end all…but an important part nevertheless, or else why bother with weight divisions. It’s also why I don’t automatically…like some…dismiss Tyson Fury’s chances against the elite guys of the 1970s. Fury’s size would be an immediate advantage…it then depends if the smaller 70s guys can somehow find a way to offset that advantage. And this would be the case in any mythical match up between our fantasy 160lb guy against Ali. So how would this happen? Would this guy go on the offensive? Highly problematic and damn near suicidal against Ali. Would he fight on the defensive, urging Ali to come forward? Better, much better. As quick as Ali was…fighting on the front foot against somebody even quicker than him would be a conundrum, even for prime Ali. So if our MW hope fights that way, I reckon he should have the speed, reflexes and elusiveness of Roy Jones, the chin of Hagler and the punch power of Julian Jackson. Then we might have a bit of a contest…for a while anyway. So while I don’t make our 160lb hybrid…let’s call him Roy Marvin Jackson…anywhere near being the favourite, I can see him asking Ali some very important questions. For a while anyway. And with an equaliser type punch on him, he could, just could, get lucky, the way ‘Our Enry’ almost was!
I'm reluctant to bump this thread but against my better judgment I will. You mention Marvin Hagler. Hagler had a good chin, for a middleweight. His chin wasn't tested by 215 pound fighters. I must have watched his fight with Leonard two dozen times. There were times when he traded with Leonard and had to back up. If Ray can make him back up what would Muhammad do? Both packed an average wallop for a man their size. Weight classes in combat sports are there for a reason.
Hence why I added Roy Jones speed and elusiveness. Hagler’s chin was there as a little added security to keep him upright for a while. No point giving him RJJ’s chin or the contest would be over as soon as Ali landed!
Watching Ray make Marvin back up gave me a tingling in the loins. It's interesting some people conveniently ignore that when judging that fight. That should have never happened to a beast like Marvin. He tried as the saying goes to walk through Ray's punches and found out he couldn't.
I know. As a Hagler fan I wasn’t enjoying those moments. But there was never any danger of him being dropped. But , yes it made uncomfortable viewing at times.
He wasn't dropped but he made him back up. That was amazing in and of itself. This 160 pound speculation made me think of when Ray said he could beat Mike Tyson. I'm sure he didn't believe it, physics and all, but it was a demonstration of the faith he had in himself. I'm sure it gave Mike a chuckle as they were friends.
Haha that fight would have been a funny sight. I could see SRL having some fun for a while, running and skipping out of danger. Until he gets pegged, and then the fun stops!
Frazier was all over the place about Ali. You can see a video where his son chides him for a phone message where he takes credit for Ali's condition. He would hate Ali then be sentimental, the way Ali treated him it is quite understandable. But better Frazier moved past it-at some dinner other HWs, Norton, Holmes, intervened to stand between him & Ali as Frazier bitterly berated him. A friend took a pilgrammage to Philly on his motorcycle, Joe was really generous, gave him signed gloves-then came running out to offer him the same thing. My pal said Frazier seemed to think he won all 3 fights-not just that he deserved the decisions. I think alcohol likely played a role in his later life condition.
Under boxing rules, no. Nobody at 160 lbs is beating prime Ali. In fact, regardless of weight, we'd have to wait a long time for an Ali-conqueror to arrive. But some day, no doubt, one will come.
No one but you was thinking that I meant Ali would lose to an MMA fighter under boxing rules, I’m not that bad.
Good. Noted. The most notable fight between a top MMA and a top boxer was Floyd-Magregor, and it was conducted under boxing rules, so I was just stating boxing rules for clarity. No harm done.
I would say not likely within the next thirty years because it would take at least that long for boxers to learn to be as good as when top fighters were fighting each other more often. But of course, the possibility exists. I suppose stranger things have happened.
Ali wouldn't "butcher" Ezzard Charles. If anything, if you had to pick a sub 200 pounder to get the job done vs Ali, Chalres would be on that short list. Granted, he was well larger than 160 in his prime.