If you thought Rigo was a runner! Oh geez, Roy isn't stupid enough to get in the ring with the greatest heavyweight of all time
Ali would have about a 4 inch height advantage and his hands were still quick. Roy would have to gamble to get past Ali's fast jab. Ali might bust him up on his way to a decision.
In 1998, Roy was a LHW - in 1974, Ali was sharper and more sturdy than the fighter in FOTC. Roy will outspeed Ali, but he will also still dance away towards the ropes and turn his head and close his eyes momentarily from incoming fire. One thing we know about this Ali is he still retained quick hands, a sharp, fast jab, a good right hand, both as a lead and counter, good whiskers and an unwavering self-belief. I don't think Roy signs to fight him - he chose Ruiz for a reason - and if he did, I'm not sure that Ali doesn't start walking him down in a similar manner to how he fought Foster and Folley - waiting for the opportunity to land over Roy's left or timing his leaping lead hook. I don't think this fight does Roy any service - Roy was an absolute great - he wasn't a HW great - the punches land differently - I think we all agree that a 1967 version of Ali with mean intentions is an unfair mismatch and Roy would be best to leave that alone, so what to be gained from his facing a 1974 version?
Fotc Ali imo is better than the rumble in the jungle Ali. 74 Ali takes a bigger hiding than the fotc Ali, Frazier in 71 was unbeatable with regards to Ali, a movers nightmare was smoking joe
The tape shows that Ali was smoother, paced himself better and broke up the action better and more strategically from 1972 - 1974. Frazier beat a great fighter, but a fighter such as Ali doesn't step away from the ring for nearly four years and return to his utmost sharpness after 2 tune up fights. Frazier brought out greatness that night from Ali and had Ali met that same fighter a year later, Frazier probably wins (a post-exile Ali would always likely have to lose to Joe to learn lessons for later fights) but Ali would have made it closer by way of being able to maintain output and having better timing on his jab and strength and conditioning in his legs.
He learned how to fight Frazier after losing the first time. Ali certainly wasn't as fast in 74 as he was in 71. He was probably smarter. He learned how to tie Joe up and get away with it. He paid to learn!
Ali imo by the 70's gave up speed for power. Yeah he was no were near Tyson or Louis type of power. But I can not see Jones overcoming Ali's, strength and power in this match in 75. I think Ali stops Jones by round 11 or so.
Frazier was bounced by foreman before they rematched, imo and a few others, Frazier was down hill after fotc, especially with his style
I said that WE would have to assume this. Roy was 29 years old in 1998. Roy was 34 years old in 2003 when he fought Ruiz. I was assuming that you were looking hypothetically at a 200 pound HW version of Roy from 1998. Or are you looking at putting Roy up when he was a LHW? Fury vs Ali has nothing to do with this. No version of Roy was beating Ali from 1974.
