Ali/Clay vs Style

Which style of fighter provided him (Clay/Ali) with the most troubles?

Thought about doing this as a poll, but a direct response without one seemed most appropriate. Most in this section should know the different styles

 

A young Clay/Ali found it difficult to fight southpaw Karl Mildenberger. A clever, tricky southpaw could maybe have given him trouble at that time, but as nearly always Clay/Ali found a way to win.

Woller

 

The come-forward relentless pressure fighter, who had excellent stamina.. or excellent counter-punchers. Though a peak Ali destroys all. Including Manny Pacquiao.

 

Swarmers present worst style match for Ali... Is why prime vs prime I would pick tyson KO in 4

 

Ali has a VERY hard time beating Tyson, Dempsey, Marciano... and of course, he already proved that against Frazier. Norton wasn't of the same ilk so maybe his style deserves a closer examination as well. Wepner floored him

He wasn't "The Greatest" against all styles, but he did handle many well - most of the ATGs do though.

 

Ken Norton's style.

 

Ali was good vs the slow plodding big guys but was troubled by the shorter guys punching up and the rytym breakers like Norton,Mildenburger,Jones and barring cuts Cooper and ofcouse Joe Frazier and the left hook was also Ali's Kryptonite

 

Prime Ali 1964-67 would have prevailed against any of those dudes you mentioned.

I believe he would have stopped anyone he wanted to in that era.

Senya13 believes that Roy would have beaten Ali.

I believe Senya is deluded. ( I'm a big Roy fan).

However, the Roy style ( somewhat similar to Ali's) would have given him trouble.

But nobody had that style when Ali was prime and if Roy were transported back in time to then , ROY would have been KO'D

 

Give me peak pre exile Ali and i would say Frazier and Holmes give him the most trouble, Louis too with his handspeed and punching accuracy. Lewis sheer size would be awkward too. Marciano too with relentless pressure. Having said this i would take Ali over all of them in excellent and competitive bouts.

 

Define that for me. Just curious.

 

Good post, John. Of course, I don't agree with you on everything... but you make enough sense to be respected, always have!

 

Thanks mate, this is all speculation of course, we just have to justify it as compellingly as we can. We are all jostling for position i guess.

 

That makes two of you then.

 

It was the little, relentless, swarming infighters, particularly ones with big left hooks, who gave Ali the most trouble- Cooper, Jones, Bonavena, Frazier, Norton and Spinks(I know Ali was washed-up, but it's a stylistic principle) all fit this prototype to a considerable extent.

 

:good and Spinks had 6 fights