Was Muhammad Ali in good fighting shape in the Fight of the Century 1971?

Here’s a thought.

We know the exile robbed Ali of his best years, or at the least. a continuance of same.

Did it also rob Ali of what he could’ve been by the time of FOTC, had Ali continued fighting through to that point? I’m not just talking his carrying regular fighting trim and conditioning into the fight (which he didn’t for the FOTC) , but could Ali have lost substantively in certain attributes anyway. given the passage of time and more fights under his belt?

I’m leading into the question of Ali’s prime mobility, his greatest defensive attribute.. Though not always, most fighter’s primes might reasonably be calculated between 25- 28 yo, the years Ali was denied. Peak allows for most attributes at their best being maintained.

Given its sublime nature, I would say that the shelf life for Ali’s incredible perpetual movement was that bit less than the rest of his arsenal. Even later in the 60s, with extra weight and filling out and being a little bit older though not old, it seemed Ali’s movement might’ve naturally depreciated slightly.

Of course if Ali kept fighting he and Joe face off earlier - I’m just transporting an active Ali into FOTC ‘71.

 

LOL. You got in before me and before I saw your post which touched on several similar points to mine. If I saw yours I wouldn’t have bothered. Good stuff!

 

No not really, Muhamaad Ali last fought on March 22 1967, stopping Zora Folley in the 7 th round of his last title defense before being stripped of his boxing title and license because of his legal troubles with the Selective Service. Ali did not return to the ring until Oct 26 1970, stopping Jerry Quarry, TKO 3, the result of a lacerated eyebrow. He looked terrible against Oscar Bonavena on Dec 7 1970, stopping Oscar in round 15. Ali's timing, reflexes, and stamina were suspect, he was more vulnerable, got tagged more than he ever did in 1967. Ali's legs were also gone due to the layoff. Yank Durham avoided a title shot for his fighter Smoking Joe Frazier in 1967, when asked by a reporter, he thought that his fighter was not ready, too green. But to Joe's credit, he fought a great fight, won it fair and square. Ali fell prey to greed to take that fight on March 8 1971, he should have had another tune up fight prior to challenging Frazier. The 1971 Ali laid on the ropes much too often, something he did not do in 1967, when he had his timing and stamina to move for 15 rounds.

 

Ali's stamina was lacking, he did not lay on the ropes in his peak years, 1964-1967, he was always on his toes.

 

Ali chose to let Chuvalo attack his body he didn't do it out of necessity,I can't see how M A doesn't see that.

 

Ali spent half the fight backed up in a corner,he wasn't dancing around using his legs.

 

Muhammad Ali's legs were essentially gone, that long layoff did it. Sparring or lecturing around different colleges while appealing the court conviction of Draft Evasion certainly did not help his cause or keep him in fighting shape.

 

In the first George Chuvalo title defense on March 29 1966, Muhammad Ali did allow himself to get pummeled on the ropes, he was overweight for that time period, 214 lbs. Ali usually weighed between 210 to 212 lbs and lighter for his title defenses, it was easy on his legs.