Jimmy Young vs Muhammad Ali Prime for Prime

:rofl If Ali falls asleep due to lack of interest and action, he really could sneak it right out of there.

 

Ali was clearly more inept against back-foot, mobile boxers of course. Jimmy Young, being one of the most refined pugilists of all time would force a prime Ali to awkwardly lead with no effect, spoiling and countering all the way. Forget the overall disparity in ability, physical talent, will to win, and accomplishments. Muhammad Ali is tailor made for Jimmy Young, he clearly won their fight by 7 rounds and was robbed completely. Despite not winning a decision against a faded, chubby Ali it would actually work in his favor to fight a prime Ali.

Young UD15 Clay.

 

The funny thing is that the notion that Ali had trouble coming forward is based on one thing: his perfomance against Young. So he's basicallly judged in this regard on one fight 9 years after his prime when he was in poor shape. Let's do that on every fighter and see how far we get. Duran and Hagler will for example be seen as easy pay-days for every defensively skilled fighter.

The Duran that lost to Benitez and Laing, and the Hagler that lost to Leonard were probably closer to their respective primes (Hagler undoubtly was, and Duran was at the very least in better shape against Benitez than Ali was against Young).

Those that have actually watched Ali and not only burps up clichés know that Patterson tried to make Ali lead and then counter in 1965 and failed miserably (and those that have watched the fight also know that Floyd's back only gave way when it already was a moot issue). Ali also had little problems against a counter puncher like Quarry or a defensive fighter like Bugner or a slickster like Mathis.

To think that Young wins this one is either stupidty or bias. I'll settle for bias, since those who do otherwise are quite good posters in other cases.

 

"" is consistantly my standard reaction to your posts.:tong

 

Ali via very wide UD.

Old Ali was fat & shot, but still decisioned Young in '76 & it was no "robbery".

 

The gangly, younger Ali who fought Terrell and Patterson is a far cry from the muscular, 230 pound man that Jimmy Young brutalized.

Young by KO. Early.

 

sarcasm in text is not easily read

 

This must be the only occassion where several posters think that a peak version of a fighter fares no better (or fares even worse) than what he did when over the hill.

Ali truly is unique.

 

This is how I see it:good

 

What a surreal view

 

Indeed. The Ali who lost to Leon Spinks would have eaten up Joe Frazier and Ken Norton on the same night !

 

Jimmy Young was clearly the superior pugilist head to head. He made Foreman look even worse than Ali and was robbed against everyone else because judges could not appreciate his powerful, master boxing. Forget that he was a pantywaist hitter, couldn't press a fight out of a paper bag, and lacked the fighting mentality necessary to be even a truly consistent contender. He was just too good of a boxer to be outboxed. I suspect Harold Johnson, Charles, and Moore would all be decisioned to death by his frustrating catatonic boxing.

cant be touched

 

A prime Ali would have been a safe bet to have outboxed anybody :deal

 

Agreed, and probably wider.

Different class.

Ali showed he was the superior fighter. Its fair game having Young winning their fight, but Ali was well past it, and Young STILL couldnt make it clear. He was spoiling his little ass off, and probably deserved a point or two taken off his score.

Prime Ali runs him ragged.