How Good was Muhammad Ali on the Ropes?

Ali was almost perfect at some things, but he couldn't fight inside for ****, why the hell he backed up to the ropes all the time (especially in his 70's career) I'll never know, I guess it was to get a breather, but he got hit far too much especially to the body

Khan does the exact same thing, except he's younger than Ali was when he made it a habit so there really isn't any excuse, it's just a bad tactic to preserve some stamina I think

 

atsch

Personally, I think Ali resorted to using the rope tac tic when he didnt need to, and at times it was probably the worst thing for him to do.....

however, you're saying he couldnt fight on the inside for ****?! :nut

he stood toe to toe against two of the greatest offensive fighters the sport has ever seen, foreman + frazier

:hi:

 

Wasn't great, but he wasn't bad. Took a lot of punishment in his old age against the likes of Frazier and Foreman, but he was able to counter-punch well and throw some good uppercuts in there. He'd smother/grab his opponent while catching a breather for long stretches, and eventually regain the center by either grabbing his opponent and waiting for a break, or circling out while shoving his opponent away or his head down.

 

By that time the medical authorities could no longer overlook the state of his health which is why that fight took place in the Bahamas ( or someplace close to it).

 

One of the first things a fighter loses is the will train hard. Ali lost it around Norton I, where he spent most of his camp sleeping with groupies. It generally got worse after that. I think it was Norton III, where he had a 3 some the night before. Basically he had no choice but to lay against the ropes and take rest breaks.

You save stamina, but take more long term punisment. Not a great trade off imo.

 

Holmes?

 

Holmes as well, but he retired as Champion and returned to try and re-claim it.
EVERYBODY knew he was seriously Ill before the Berbick fight, the man could barely talk.

Berbick still hardly beat him.

 

good point

 

He wasnt in the best of shape after Spinks I

 

Only reason Spinks got the Ali fight was because Ali knew he was declining IMO, he saw what he thought was an easy defence that would make him a solid amount of money.

 

The problem was, Ali didnt hard enough to deter guys like Frazier and Norton.

Mayweather hits pretty hard, his punches catch his opponents atention

 

He also bragged after beating Spinks that he had beaten a high number of olympic medallists. I have been thinking recently that mabe he lost to Spinks on purpose, lose to an easy opponent and then win the title back, becoming the first ever 3 time world cahmp.

 

And whenever Frazier got inside he beat the absolute **** out of him

Foreman also caught him with some mean, mean body and head shots that most likely seriously affected Ali in the long run