If Ali was born ten years earlier?

It's an interesting thought if an Ali who turns pro in 1950 and wins the title in 54 ends up defending his title in 59 or 60 against Sonny Liston. He probably also fights Moore in 1955 after a Marciano rematch, fights Patterson, Johansson. He probably has some "filler" fights against Roy Harris and Brian London.

 

Far as the NOI is concerned, Malcolm X would have still been in prison in 1950 and wouldn't be paroled until 1952. Malcolm X didn't gain prominence until the late 50s. This isn't to say Ali never joins the NOI, but maybe under different circumstances.

 

If Muhammad Ali had been born ten years earlier, that means that Ali would have been born on January 17 1932 instead of 1942. Ali could have joined the 1952 Olympic games, won a gold medal in the light heavyweight class. He could have turned pro in 1953 as a heavyweight facing competition like Nino Valdes, Bob Satterfield, Bob Baker, Ezzard Charles, Don Cockell, Tommy Hurricane Jackson and Roland La Starza. Ali gets a shot at champion Rocky Marciano on Sept 21 1955 instead of the Ol Mongoose Archie Moore. Ali stops a very game but outclassed Marciano in round 10. Ali defends against the likes of Moore, Floyd Patterson, Roy Cut N Shoot Harris, Cleveland Big Cat Williams, Eddie Machen, Ingemar Johansson, and finally Sonny Liston on Sept 26 1962, he defats Liston on points then repeats his performance on July 22 1963, scoring another points win, then retires as champion.

 

Who's to say that Roy Harris doesn't KO Ali and then KO's him in the rematch?

 

Roy Harris? He could not even KO Floyd Patterson in August 1958, you must be smoking something, Roy was too slow for the likes of Muhammad Ali. Harris has as much chance of winning like me pooping out 14K gold bricks out of my behind, nice try.

 

Thanks. It's been up for five days but it hasn't been read.

 

He probably could have.

 

What happens if Rocky pulls the win off and retires undefeated with Clay as one of his victims?? How much in the ATG arguement does Rocky's stock goes up??

 

He might retire undefeated and his WL record probably benefits but he would not be most peoples GOAT and his legacy would be considerably worse. This is one of those cases where part of someones resume is whose around for them to fight. And if hes born 10 years earlier Ali can't really go any further than what he was in 1967. He'd be trading fighting in the 70s for fighting in the 50s and that era was really small and was dominated by Rocky Marciano and Floyd Patterson. And those guys typically come up short in historical comparisons. A few months back there was a thread on Alis career if he never came back after 1967. Honestly this scenario would be very similar in terms of how hes viewed.

One key difference between this and the "Ali retires in 1967" scenario is the most likely way his career ends is him getting beaten by Frazier in the late 60s and not avenging the loss. Another difference is I don't believe the whole Vietnam thing happens because would someone in their late 30s even be drafted for Vietnam? Especially if they were a high profile celebrity. Also being 10 years older probably changes his personality quite a bit. But if the Vietnam thing did happen at Alis age that would be the end of his career.

 

Yeah I've don't see him losing to anyone in this era maybe Rocky gives him a tough fight and maybe an up and coming Frazier beats him. But his resume def wouldn't be seen as good and he wouldn't be everyone's consensus best heavyweight ever

 

Thoughtful post!

 

And?

 

He fights in the 1952 Olympics, winning the gold when Ingo is DQ’d.

He fights Marciano for the title in 1955 and hands the Rock his first defeat when Marciano quits on his stool after six rounds claiming a shoulder injury.

Ali drops the Rock in the rematch in Lewiston, Maine, in the first round and ends up with a controversial quick KO.

Then a bunch of other stuff happens.