In a bout between the Emmanuel Steward-trained Lennox Lewis and the 70s Ali who wins?

Agreed.

 

I lived all through the Ali era in the 70’s and watch most all of his bouts live. You altered your position to fit a narrative.

Post 1970 Ali fought MOST of his bouts in good shape. Like most all hwts as he became older he put on weight. This is when you see him over 220 post his win over Foreman.

By this time Ali had adopted his ropeadope strategy and this generally was why you thought he was close to losing....he was allowing opponents to try to hit him.

Like most champions with long reigns occasionally he had thought fights. A mark of an ATG fighter is the ability to beat opponents in close fights...finding a way to win.

Alis close bouts during this time were due to not being in shape for what he thought would be easy victories...Norton 1 and Young.

 

Ali nearly got one shotted by Cooper. You do the math.

That said, I'll grant that it was hard to catch Ali cold like that, he was generally pretty aware.

 

Lewis was champion for both flattenings. The thought of either of those guys knocking out champion Ali is laughable

 

I understand I may be in the minority on this, but, I don't think Manny Steward made Lennox Lewis a significantly better fighter. I do agree Manny helped Lennox be less careless, and use his size better. But, it came at the expense of becoming a mostly boring, safety-first fighter. Just like Wlad.

 

Early to mid 70s Ali by close UD.

Any version of Ali post Frazier III loses to Lewis.

Prime Ali wins a very easy UD over Lewis.

 

Exactly.

He taught Lewis how to protect his chin, just as he later followed that blueprint with Wlad.

Ali was quite versitile.

If Lewis, not fearful of Ali's power stood in front of Ali and came forward, Ali would utilize his sublime footspeed to box circles around Lennox.

If Lewis tried to use his height and reach, Ali would come forward with bursts of punches using his superior handspeed, then get back outside. If Ali does get caught, he has the chin to take it or the quick recuperative powers to recover if hurt.

 

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70's Ali by SD.

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Sounds like you make a great case for Ali shipping a ton of punishment by fighters most people regard as much worse than Lewis