Send in your prime heavies to beat 1967 Ali

I think Mike Tyson had the right style to do the job but I don’t know if I’d favor him .

 

The first guy that comes into my mind is also prime Mike stylewise. And maybe prime (juiced) Holyfield outworking him and takes the decision.
I don't see Marciano or Frazier types beeing a problem for prime Ali with his constant dancing around style.
And i also highly favor him above the bigger guys like Lewis, WK, VK, Fury, Joshua, Wilder etc. Ali showed he can handle guys with big reach, height and weight advantage. Furthermore; If Liston, Foreman, Lyle etc couldn't hit / hurt him...why should they do?
Last mention is Usyk...for me a better version of Mildenberger. Ali might struggle with elite level slick southpaws.

 

Same man who beat him the first time, Smokin Joe Frazier

 

I really can't think of any HW that could have beaten Ali in 1967--he had everything!! Great foot and hand speed, fast reflexes, fabulous conditioning--and a punch that was getting more and more powerful! I just can't think of any HW in history that would have been a tough match for that version of Ali. (Even FOTC Frazier---Ali would just be too fast, sharp, and well conditioned and he wouldn't need to lay on the ropes and clinch like he did in the 71 fight.)

 

Joe Louis Barrow maybe. Peak Holmes might make it interesting although in a weird way I think that might be a boring fight stylistically.

Tyson would be interesting. Ali would have to be on his game from the opening bell a la Liston 1, he couldn’t screw around.

He’d take Frazier. Donning Kevlar, Joe Frazier beat Ali on a single night in time when he was fueled by hatred, and got the ever loving merde/caca beaten out of himself in the process. Dave Wolf type revisionists whining about holding aside, Ali ultimately proved beyond a doubt who the superior fighter between the two.

 

Joe Frazier
Larry Holmes
And maybe Tyson

 

pre gunshot Cleveland Williams.

 

You're respectfully wrong.

Pre gunshot Williams has the perfect style to beat Ali. Ali was extremely fortunate, he wasn't facing that version of Williams in the astrodome or he would've been the one in the infamous picture lying on his back.

 

You know who beats em both ? My main man chuck Wepner. That 1975 fight BS. Chuck should have won

 

I'll chuck in prime Tunney. He was smaller than Ali but was an excellent technician with a great (and frequent) jab, which I think would frustrate Ali. He also predominantly fought off the back-foot using sharp counter-punching, and Ali was never all too comfortable on the front-foot. I know he's smaller but he also comes from and era where grappling and inside fighter was far more common, so I won't be too worried about him dealing with Ali's wrestling like I am with some other HW greats. I think he has a chance, albeit a slim one.