Ali's legacy if he retired after Manila

A lot of people saying Ali should have retired after Manila. If he did so and stayed retired, how would his legacy look like? On one hand, he would have 6 title defences less, wouldn't have the guys like Young and Shavers on his resume and wouldn't become the only 3 time lineal heavyweight champion in history. On the other hand, we wouldn't see his decline in real time, wouldn't see a toss up fight with Norton and a stinker with Evangelista and he wouldn't have a loss to Spinks and of course Holmes and Berbick. Would he still be the GOAT?

 

Should have retired with a loss to Norton imo on da' third fight but still, Manilla is a picture-perfect, movie-like ending. Same with Frazier.
I would rate him still the same since I rarely rate the losses fighters have when they go on for too long. Same with Roid Jones.

 

His legacy was cemented after the Rumble. Most of the controversial decisions came after it, virtually all of them.

 

He shouldn’t have had Shavers or Young on his resume in the first place nor Norton in the 3rd bout… the only fighter we’d probably ask questions about is Young because of what he’d go on to do, really I don’t think Young should’ve got the call to fight Ali and at that point that’s probably why he was picked lol.

 

Nothing he did after Manila really added much to his legacy. If anything it did the opposite with the amount of close decisions he won.

 

Probably has about the same legacy, more or less. Probably would have saved a bit of his health though

 

Agree that his legacy would be more or less the same--and I believe he would have avoided the tragic deterioration of his health in his later years-which was heartbreaking to witness! Hindsight is always 20-20-but it would have been THE perfect time for Ali to hang em' up after that war with Frazier in Manila.

 

He would still be the GOAT and his later years might have been more pleasant.

 

I agree. And Muhammad's quality of life may well have been better.

 

Maybe it might have delayed the more serious symptoms. His treating neurologists believe he was developing it mid careeer which is immediately upon his return from exile

 

I've read that too. I somehow find that hard to believe though as Muhammad was still pretty awesome,albeit post-prime,on his return right up until Manila. The late seventies would be my own guess for the onset of his parkinsonism,but that's only a layman's guess.

 

Nominally marginally better. Fight fans know that he legit won very few after the Thrilla, but understand the circumstances, and he's still the Greatest one way or the other. Casuals just know he is Ali... no other analysis needed.

So he would pick up a couple of spaces among the very knowledgeable for not having poor performances and losses to Lyle, Shavers, Young, Norton, Spinks, Holmes and Berbick, but its the difference between being #1 and #1.

 

Being a 3 time lineal champion does. It was a big deal when it happened.

 

Ideally get out after the thrilla.

 

More or less the same?

Less defenses but less punishment and less racking up of losses. Plus some people think he of his later fights he won.