Small yet signifigant changes ensue in this alternate boxing reality - In 1973 Muhammad Ali beats Joe Bugner,Henry Clark and Rudi Lubbers while keeping himself fresh for the Joe Frazier rematch in '74. As per reality Muhammad beats Frazier then George Foreman to win the title back. Everything as real time up until 1976 when Muhammad rematches Foreman at Yankee Stadium. Even though Ali has declined quite a bit since Zaire,it's obvious that Foreman's been psyched out. He simply can't seem to follow a coherent strategy against the champion and is extremely wary about punching himself out. In a slow fight Muhammad wins a clear decision on all cards. George retires immediately afterwards. In 1978 Leon Spinks who has dethroned an ageing Ali refuses to defend against WBC's mandatory challenger Jimmy Young. Jimmy becomes WBC champ by default and defends against Larry Holmes. History then reverts to it's original path. How does everyone else see this?
We'd have been deprived of two of my fave heavyweight bouts of the 1970s: Ali-Norton II & Holmes-Norton.
I guess it would depend on who George fought in Caracas. You left that one out. If Norton never fought Ali, it wouldn't have been Norton. Also, Ali was fighting every couple months in 1972 and he started the same way in 1973 fighting Bugner in Febuary and Norton in March. I doubt he'd have fought Henry Clark in March and then taken the next seven months off before Lubbers. He broke his jaw with Norton and even fought Ken again before Lubbers. So Ali, if he was keeping the same pace, would probably have to fight another guy (or two) in addition to Clark before he got to Lubbers.
Good points about Ali's pace,Dubblechin. More than likely a Shavers or Lyle would have got thrown in too.
I think you called it pretty well, Stevie G. Perhaps Foreman would've taken on the streaking red-hot Quarry in Caracas.
He goes out to Venice Beach and takes up bodybuilding, he beats Arnold for the Mr Olympia 1 out of 3 times, but the other 2 are controversial.
I was thinking about Jerry challenging George in Caracas last night funnily enough,Sweetsci. - Foreman by brutal stoppage within five rounds.
Without Ken Norton to eviscerate him, we probably see Duane Bobick work himself into position for a title shot.