Lol Wlad got beat by Ross Purrity, Lamon Brewster, and Corrie Sanders but you think he would beat Ali? Vitali quit against blown up middle weight Chris Byrd. Lennox Lewis struggled against a washed up Evander Holyfield who was naturally smaller than Ali. Ali beats all of these fighters you named.
The moment a person uses the term super heavyweight you know you can't take them seriously. Roy "Tiger" Williams was 6'5 230, Gerry Cooney was 6'6 230, Al Jones was 6'5/6'6 230 to 240, Leroy Jones was 6'5 250. Chuck Wepner was 6'5 225, Jack O'Halloran was 6'6 240 and I could go on. None of these fighters were referred to as being "super heavyweights". That is just a term created in the last few years by casuals.
Ali fights absolutely nothing like the guys that beat Wlad. Vitali got injured against Byrd. Lewis clearly beat Holyfield both times. Ali’s never fought anything like these guys, we can’t just say he beats everyone because of his name. They’re all much bigger, skilled, and know to use their size. I don’t think Ali beats them, just my opinion
Lol what we do know is Ali beat a prime Foreman. Foreman was able to compete against a prime Holyfield. A prime Holyfield was smaller than Ali and Holyfield competed against Lennox Lewis. If you want to use that logic, VItali, Wlad, and Lennox Lewis never fought anybody like Ali. You know what we do know as well? A old Larry Holmes was able to easily beat Ray Mercer. Lennox Lewis barely beat Ray Mercer. A washed up Larry Holmes did extremely well against Oliver McCall. The same McCall who knocked out Lennox Lewis with one punch. If a old Larry Holmes could do this then why couldn't a prime Ali? Also you do realize Ali beat 6'6 guys like Ernie Terrell? I am not saying he fought anything like Wlad, Lennox or Vitali. But he was taller than Wlad or Lennox Lewis. Nobody considered Ernie a super heavyweight. You do realize there were tons of 6'5 guys in the late 60's and 70's right? You young kids who think taller heavyweights just started recently crack me up. Learn to look up stuff yourself instead of listening to ESPN tell you that 6'5 heavyweights is a new thing. If you think Lewis, Wlad, or Vitali could beat Ali then maybe you should stop watching boxing.
The one I see possibly beating Ali, is Lennox Lewis. At least his very best I see him beating Ali at least once in a trilogy.
Nothing is impossible but how would Lewis beat him - on points? Stoppage? Would the fight be over 15 or 12 rounds? Could Lewis sustain his output into the championship rounds?
Don't see him stopping Ali. If it's over 15, then it's an harder fight for Lennox. A big guy like him is gonna feel it more. I do think that Lewis would have to have it drummed in to him to keep banging jab out, when he uses that it's definitely throwing Ali off his game more. And if anyone getting hurt, I see it being Muhammad. As I said before, if it 15 round, then Ali comes in to his own more. If Lewis is feeling the heat, then Ali s dangerous. I don't really ever pick against Ali but I do think that Lewis has a great chance.
Just too damn fast. Ali was blistering against 200lb heavyweights, he'd look like Neo in The Matrix against 245lb plodders.
Vitali would be too slow and he cut up easily. Wlad would be too slow and too chinny. Lewis would be a little bit slow, a little bit chinny, but i reckon he would be the toughest opponent here with his great foudamentals. AJ would get beat up and knocked out in 6.
I agree to an extent but Wlad would bulldoze through Earnie Terell in a few rounds. That being said i favor Ali to beat Klitschko by close UD
I’m certainly not writing Ali off in these types of fight. I would like to see an objective view on maybe not who would win the fight, but at least making the case, with examples of how both fighters would win. Truth is Ali never fought any heavyweights with the height, weight, skill and athletic combination of the fighters you mentioned, so we can never get a clear idea how Ali would deal with them. Foreman is usually the example I hear mentioned often when this topic comes up, but though Foreman was certainly more muscular and stronger than Ali. They were the same height, and weight when they both fought, and Ali was by far the more skilled of the two. Sure Ali fought some tall guys during his time, but they did not have the skill, athleticism or weight of boxers mentioned. I think Buster Douglas is the only one with a similar weight to boxers mentioned, but he was out of shape even for himself at the time, and obviously it was not muscle. Similarly boxers mentioned have not fought anyone like Ali either. The closest would be David Haye who did have a lot of speed and reflexes for Wladimir. Joshua does not have anyone close to Ali. For Vitali it would be Hyde, or Byrd. I’m not sure about Lennox.
The height and reach would not bother Ali. If anyone doubts that just watch his fight vs Ernie Terrell who was a good boxer ar 6-6. He didn't just beat him he played with him. Terrell had a good jab but it found nothing but air. The extra weight the modern guys have would factor in as the rounds pass. Their gonna get tired. Ali's gonna be in and out, side to side, incredible balance, his footwork would be the key. That along with his handspeed are the biggest factors in these fights. Ali won't let any of these bigger heavyweights lay on him and wrestle. At least not until he sees them getting tired. Wlad most likely gets the worst of it. He has 0% of lasting 15 with Ali. He doesn't make it 8. Lewis was a bit better, he'll use timing and play chess with Ali. Barring a perfect right hand he probably loses a decision over 15 rounds. Vitali was pretty tough mentally but I don't know if his skin and features would be up for the distance. They may have to call it TKO. Ali would be waving the referee in
Ok but Ernie Terell would get wiped out by both Klitschko brothers and Lewis and Terell himself was a toothpick. I favor Ali but it isn't just their "height and reach" but the fact that they possesed elite skills in how they used it against shorter fighters.
