Could any fighter 6'2 or under have beaten Ali if they were the same weight as he was at his heaviest or lighter?
Mark Why do you always gravitate to size, weight, reach? These are the last things you should be looking at in the hwt division. Smaller fighters did the best vs Ali as they could better match Ali’s speed. Ali dominated the large, strong, long reach hwts he fought as he was too quick for these men to catch.
Do you think Frazier benefitted from being a few pounds lighter than Ali in their first bout? If they had weighed exactly the same in that bout would the result have been different?
Makes absolutely no difference. Think SKILL, SPEED, PUNCHING POWER, DETERMINATION, DURABILITY, WILL TO WIN. These factors are key not whether one hwt weighs more or has a longer reach or has bigger biceps. Concentrate on the attributes that are key for success. As one example it’s not reach that’s important it’s how you use your reach. It’s how well you can make your style dominate over an opponents style.
The Post Modern Fight Fan will never understand these defining factors in the heavyweight division: 1. Pluck 2. Chutzpah 3. Mettle 4. Resolve 5. Fortitude 6. Spunk 7. Moxie 8. Gumption 9. Spine 10. Grit Tom Sharkey, Rocky Marciano, Tommy Burns, Marvin Hart, Jack Root, Mexican Pete Everett... the list that could beat Ali based on the above 10 factors is almost endless.
If Jimmy Young hadn't been so risk adverse he could have outpointed Ali. The judges were turned off by his ducking through the ropes and negative tactics. He befuddled Ali.
