[Deleted by user.]

yes i would

 

I would bet the lives of everyone on Earth that Ali wins.

 

Make that the first round, the only way Greb makes it out of the first round is if Ali toyed with him, even then he might accidentally KO him

 

No. Greb was an amazing fighter and beat a lot of excellent fighters of all styles and sizes. Greb certainly has a chance at beating Ali. Greb beat guys like Tunney, Soldier Jones, Tommy Loughran, Kid Norfolk, Bob Roper, Gunboat Smith, Jack Renault, Charley Weinert, Willie Meehan, Chuck Wiggins, etc.., so he’d easily rank as one of Ali’s best wins.

 

I smell a rat. Ali is looking to tank it. He wants us all to die.

Or at least anyone crazy enough to bet their life on any fight.

 

I am 100% sure that barring some kind of weirdness Ali wins. (Ali twists his ankle doing the shuffle, as an example) However, weirdness exists and my life is too important to put up in a wager. I do not make the bet.

 

Ali would have an 8in reach advantage, 7in height advantage, 50+lbs weight advantage. Being an actual HW and a decent puncher, Ali would easily be the hardest hitting guy Greb ever faced, and if we're talking pre-exile Ali, he was as fast as a middleweight.

I see no world in which Ali doesn't win.

 

I have no doubt Ali is the better fighter head to head but I wouldn’t bet my life against $$$ on any result.

Too many things can happen: stopped on a cut, injury that leads to retirement TKO, DQ, etc.

 

What if Greb gets away with a savage thumbing straight out of the gates, taking out one of Ali’s eyes?

How much do Harry’s chances improve, if at all?

PS - I’m just moving with the pretence that Greb actually existed.

This is obviously a “fantasy” fight in more ways than one. Next fight up - Ali vs Santa Claus…..Ho ho ho…

 

In fantasy fights it's usually assumed no freak accidents happen unless otherwise stated.

To answer your question, Ali always overcame all kinds of adversity. I don't think a mere thumbing of the eyes or a kick to the shins would swing the pendulum the other way. Too much of a gap in class, size, speed, etc. Ali dealt with plenty of dirty tactics from guys like Wepner while way past his prime and still won. He fought off Liston while half blind and went the distance with Norton with a broken jaw. Greb can be as wild as he wants, he ain't beating Ali even with a lenient ref.

For the record I also somewhat dispute Greb's existence. Kind of on the fence between full blown conspiracy mode and simply entertaining the idea for fun and games.

 

Upon further reflection, I am willing to bet the life of @cross_trainer against 10x my salary on Ali winning.

The esteem with which I respect cross-trainer’s contributions only underscores my confidence in Ali winning that I would be willing to risk his life on it.

 

Woah what?

 

I am talking a good, permanently damaged, eye hanging out of its socket gouging though. Thumbing not so freakish or accidental in Harry’s world at least and then of course he copped it himself.

Even Chuvalo had to turn away when Frazier badly damaged (legitimately) his eye. But you’re right, if anyone proved their ability to overcome adversities, it was Ali.

Suffice to say, IF Greb did exist, it wouldn’t be necessary to invent him but since he doesn’t, we have -

ifyouknowhatimeanandithinkyoudo.