Would if Joe Frazier had not been born? When Muhammad Ali had been banned in 1967, would the inactive WBA Champion Jimmy Ellis have fought the come backing Ali in 1971?
Muhammad Ali defeats Jimmy Ellis and is considered Lineal Champion again. We might have eventually seen Lineal Champion Kenny Norton. Then George Foreman. Then Muhammad Ali again. In my scenario Ken Norton basically replaces Joe Frazier in the Heavyweight Lineage.
Excellent scenario! In consequence George Foreman is n't rated quite as highly in the heavyweight all time list.
Frazier's brother would never have been rescued from being trapped under the ice, Frazier's wife would have become an old maid, and Old Man Potter would have taken over Philadelphia. Joe really did have a wonderful life.
More seriously, Ali would have likely taken back the title. Without the FOTC, people might be less quick to conclude that Ali had lost as much of his ability in the layoff. Nobody was fighting in 70/71 who would have immediately posed much of a threat. Ali may well edge out Norton in fight 1, both because of the Champion Scoring Bonus, and because the butterfly effect makes another jaw breakage unlikely. I do wonder whether Norton gets a title shot at all, though; it's a slightly different proposition from merely facing a very active Ali in a contender v contender fight. Foreman wouldn't face Ali under the unique conditions of Zaire. Ali also wouldn't have had the object lesson of seeing Foreman obliterate Frazier. It is possible that Ali actually loses the first fight to Foreman. Beyond that it becomes harder to figure out.
Larry Holmes would've had to find a different opponent in November 1983. ; - ) Seriously, there's a lot to unpack here. It raises some questions. Would Jerry Quarry have had a better career? What happens with George Foreman? Who does Jimmy Ellis face in February 1970? Does Sonny Liston or Floyd Patterson regain the title somewhere in there? Would Ali be seen as the greatest without a foil like Joe? Would Dave Zyglewicz have had an excellent career had he not been stopped in his tracks by Frazier?
Norton was in Frazier's orbit, as well. That raises a whole other set of questions about what happens to Norton. Didn't Frazier try to help Ali get his boxing license back? I wonder whether the exile lasts longer without his help. As to Quarry, it depends on when he can make something happen. He isn't getting a win over Ali at any stage in their respective careers, so he either needs to make something happen before Ali's comeback, or get a title shot against Foreman / Norton (assuming either ever beats Ali) later on and cross his fingers.
So Norton would have become Alis no 1 rival. It may have helped Ali, he wouldn't have had to have those grueling fights. He come s out exile and beats Ellis and Mathis. Takes on challenger Foreman, beats him in a massive upset. Maybe he's a little fresher and doesn't lose to Spinks?
