Who would have been Ali's toughest matchup among boxers he never fought?

Mike Tyson because of his speed. His handspeed was not like Ali's but it was much closer than most heavyweights.
With Ali keeping his hands low it would be a rough fight for Muhammad. Especially early until maybe Ali adjusts to Tyson explosive attack.
Ali could outgut Tyson but he would have to take punishment in the process. The floating and moving would allow Tyson to come forward and that gave him confidence.
Im referring to Tyson at or near his best form.

 

Hi Buddy.
Must say you make a lot sense, and hard to argue with your prognosis, thank you.
Mike.

 

Probably Usyk. How many southpaws did Ali face?

 

Ali faced two that i recall. He was the first to defend a world heavyweight title against one. In the early rounds Karl Mildenberger had decent success against Ali, outjabbing him for spells and landing some good punches. Mildenberger was pretty quick, and decent technically. As the fight went on Ali adapted and moved to his right more, which unlocked avenues for his own offense while taking away some of Mildenberger's. Suddenly his jab was finding the spot more, he was getting hit less and his right hand came into play. At times he was crossing over Karl's cross and was countering his jab with good success. Basically Ali learnt on the fly, and FAST. When much older he used similar stuff to beat up Richard Dunn.

Usyk's far better but Ali sure won't be floundering against the southpaw style, that's for sure. He definitely fought one or two more than most other heavyweight champs, especially pre Moorer/Byrd and forward. Comparative to earlier, southpaw heavyweights have been prolific in recent decades.

 

Ali did spar a lot [insert Larry Holmes origin story]. So presumably he would bring in some southpaws if he was going to face one.

 

Quite likely. The main thing is he showed he could adapt against them technically and handle the challenge. It's handy that he had one of the great right leads too and throws his right extremely straight.

 

I just watched Ali vs Mildenberger again because I've often heard this brought up to discredit Ali's chances against Usyk.

I gave Mildenberger only 2 rounds he was game throughout the fight but any success he did have Ali took the play away from him.

There was rounds where Mildenberger was doing well landing southpaw right jabs and occasional straight left. But then Ali would comeback in the 2nd half of the round and drop him.

If anything to me this it's to Ali's credit that he adjusted well to a tricky southpaw.

Ali started circling the other way getting hit less, found openings to land his jab and straight right hand.

As I've said a few times if Usyk had only lost a maximum of 3 rounds vs a top 10 rated Heavyweight. And dropped the fighter 3 times and stopped him fans on general forum would be giving Usyk alot of credit.

Yet for some reason this fight is used to discredit Ali by some fans which is strange to me.

Anyway here was my scorecard.

Muhammad Ali vs Karl Mildenberger

1 Ali
2 Ali
3 Mildenberger
4 Mildenberger
5 Ali 10-8 knockdown
6 Ali
7 Ali
8 Ali 10-8 knockdown
9 Ali
10 Ali 10-8 knockdown
11 Ali
12 Ali wins by TKO

108-98 Ali

 

Top post. You saw what i saw and our opinions are the same. It's only the haters/detractors that try and hold the fight against him. They've either never watched it or simply don't know what they are looking at....or just want to push the agenda regardless. It showed Ali could adapt to southpaws and boy did he show some sweet moves doing it.

 

Tom Sharkey?

 

Am I the only person that thinks Tyson has faster hands than Ali?

The low frame rate for Ali's fights + the fact they fought in 8oz gloves makes Ali look faster but I don't see that much of a difference in his and Tyson's handspeed at all even considering the differences.

 

I agree.

 

Klitschko
Tyson
Usyk
Lewis
Holyfield

All beat Ali

 

Tyson
Holmes
Wlad

 

I don't see it being Mike as Ali would have a field day. Mike hit Bonecrusher smith after the bell for talking ****.
Now imagine this, you have a dude that just keeps talking **** about you after you hit him and then he just keep talking ****. You have 4 hard rounds in your tank ,and he keeps talking ****, and while he is talking taht **** and you are geting tired he starts beating your ass.
And he is used to going 15 rounds, and now he is going 12, he is used to getting hit by 8 ounche gloves, now he is being hit byou 10 ounce gloves.

the problem is that it is hard to see anyone in boxing history, dealing with that speed, that chin ,that footwork, that stamina and that mouth. Like here is the list;

Lennox Lewis: Like I imagine him fight Lennox Lewis and he has height and reach advantage, but here comes that speed and fast as hell combinations and he is hitting you constantly, you are slower than what he is used to fight and you can't KO him.

Evander: Evander loved people who fought, he hated people who jabbed and danced, and here comes the dancing boxer. Evander had the advantage of speed over his opponents, the problem is he doesn't have this here.

Wlad is honestly someone I can see giving him trouble, just because of holding tactics, but again, Hayes movement gave Wlad problems in moving around ,now imagine Haye times 5.

Larry is the only one I can see give him problems surprisingly enough because Ali has not fought anyone with that type of jab. Liston's was not the same

 

Ibeabuchi and Witherspoon are both excellent answers. I disagree with people saying Tyson, though at his peak he is giving hell to anybody in history— still Mike was more complacent when tied up, easier to outmaneuver and control than bob and weaving, inside fighting rhythm fighter in Frazier. Mike still wanted you to lead so he could conter, and while he would unload if an opponent needed a little encouragement, he was not the same kind of perpetual motion that Frazier was.