Rumble in the Jungle: Could Ali have boxed like that for 15?

Ali went to the ropes to conserve energy so he could fight a 15round fight. Its almost a pity that Foreman didnt make the count because Ali would have come stronger and stronger as Foreman faded

 

Yes. He has already box eight rounds like than no problem. Ali was well conditioned.

 

By the way, Foreman beat the count.

 

Not sure but I Ali never gave us any reason to doubt his stamina and will.

 

Yes, provided that Foreman did slow down somewhat. Ali could conserve energy, had so much character, and could endure so much pain. With a gradual winding down pace, I believe Ali could have gone twenty rounds if need be.

Against a robot Foreman -- aye. The chances of a massive hit increase simply because of dimming reflexes due to Ali being tired. But would Ali quit or mentally give up? Hell no.

To beat the man, you really had to be better on the night, over the full distance, and a good deal better, because I've never seen a more willfull man in the ring.

 

Ali had a superhuman ability to will himself to fight back when hurt or exhausted. He said at the time that he was lucky that he knocked Foreman out in the eighth or else he himself would have been knocked out in the next round. If Foreman had gotten up a second earlier and continued in the 9th round I believe he was totally spent and Ali would have hit him at will and stopped him. Remember, Ali must have known he really caught Foreman good cause' he could have hit him again on the way down but elected not to. Ali never wanted to hurt a man unnecessarily when he didn't have to. I think if the 9th round happened Ali would have been waving the ref in himself if Foreman was being battered around the ring without going down.

 

Are you assuming that Foreman doesn't tire or that he has the stamina to go the distance ?

 

but didnt argue

 

Foreman was slowing down significantly by round 5. By 8 he was very gassed and throwing body shots that were slow, telegraphed, and much weaker. I don't think Ali would have any problems. Ali gets stronger, Foreman fades even more.

 

When did Ali say that?

 

When Muhammad portrayed himself between rounds of his autobiographical movie to Ernest Borgnine's Angelo Dundee. (When it comes to portraying Muhammad Ali in the movies, Will Smith comes in a very distant third, with second place a blank.)

 

:deal

 

Interesting this i was watching an Audiance with Muhammed Ali the other day and he mentioned that he couldnt keep up the boxing on the toes but could stay on the ropes as it was alot less tiring and he used little tricks to tire out his opponents.