Oleksandr Usyk is physical proof Ali would do well in the modern heavyweight era

There's a reason he's known as "The Greatest".

 

Well..You are largely right. But like those who go to the opposite extreme, it is overstated.
Yes size means less over 200 lbs.
Although muscle coupled with disavantages in height & reach adds to the challenge.

Roy Jones proved nothing, because he hardly fought at HW-& nobody very big or very good.
The others are good examples, but again to an extent.
Haye did not beat a great SHW, neither did Frazier.
Holyfield lost all but one of his 5 fights against great SHW, & did not deserve his draw.

I would love to see a dominant HW who is not much over 200 lbs., &/or 6'or under.
This is harder when so much clinching is allowed.

 

Usyk hasn’t done anything at HW yet.

Ali would be absolutely fine in the modern era of super HWs though.

 

Yes, Holyfield at his best was an ATG.
However Foreman was just world class & in his early 40's, not an ATG when he fought Holyfield.
It is said his speed could be timed with a sundial in his comeback lol!
He said he never had any-one of the many things jovial George said that was untrue. Ali himself was surprised at how fast he moved-& that was on a slow ring with no spring. And without being hit with his then pretty quick ramrod jabs...

Holyfield needed to bulk up to HW-& indisputably did it with the help of PEDs.
It is questionable whether even at his greater work rate & likely endurance in the early '90's, around 205 lbs., if he could have been competitive against the Big Boys without adding pure muscle & getting to ~ 217.

He seemed to need it to beat Bowe 1 out of 3 times.
When the "fan man" break helped him recover.

So we largely agree, size means less north of 200 lbs.
But it still has some significant meaning.
Being appreciably outsized in muscle, height & length against a skilled SHW is a big disadvantage.

 

Foreman hit really hard, likely slightly less than in his prime, more weight, less speed...Hard to know who hit harder among he, Morrison (with steroids) Ruddock, Tua, Bonecrusher & Bruno.

I think Ali would thrive & maybe still be The greatest, but it is really hard to know for sure.

 

People who suggest that are utterly stupid.

 

Povetkin doesn't have physical advantages vs Usyk. he is small for HW division, 225-228 lber and 41 y.o.
If someone doubts that size matters if an opponent is also highly skilled watch Povetkin vs Klitschko fight. then Klitschko was younger. not young but still not pre retirement years version.
No place there also is to bring up A.J as great because he defeated over the hill old these Povetkin and Klitschko. Not marquee fights.

 

I'm not saying Povetkin would have won, but to be fair, Klitschko should have been DQd for holding and throwing. 13.5 clinches a round. lol. He also throws him down like twice.