How does Ali from the rematch with Norton fare against prime Frazier and Foreman?

I find it odd that so many people see Ali's FOTC performance as subpar. Watch the first five or six rounds, he was incredible. Sure, his feet slowed up but he was catching Joe from all angles and those were sharp as HELL punches. He looked great, he just didn't see in advance how far he pushed Joe.

 

It was stupid…in the sense that fighting an honest fight to prove you were better than Frazier failed him.

 

Quite a few variables to consider.

For one thing, I’m of the thinking that Ali wasn’t fully match fit and tuned for the FOTC.

I think he would’ve reached his full potential for same with a few more fights around that time and more time and better prep going into the FOTC itself.

But then, and it doesn’t seem to be addressed so much if at all, whatever potential Ali did have in 71, that potential would’ve been reduced by 73 - with Ali being that bit older and given the accrued wear/since the FOTC, with Ali fulfilling an extremely busy schedule.

So, just in my view, , it boils down to a younger, rusty and yet to be fully tuned up Ali vs a an older, more worn torn Ali who was the best he could be at as the time of the Norton and Frazier rematches.

So, a few relative pros and cons to be considered when trying to determine which one was the better version of Ali.

Anyway, I think Ali defeats Foreman still but determining if Ali of the Norton rematch gets over FOTC Frazier is more problematic -

I guess another variable to consider is how close you think the FOTC was - I tend to think the FOTC was a lot closer than most people.

 

Could not agree more--Ali was SAVAGE in those early rounds of the FOTC! I've always said that Ali stops anybody else who stepped in the ring with him that night except Joe!

I've read from various sources that Ali really thought he could take Frazier within 6 rounds and didn't anticipate having such a brutal war on his hands. Consequently he trained for a shorter fight and just didn't have the gas in the tank he would need to outlast Frazier-who literally laid EVERYTHING on the line in that all-time classic bout!

 

Alì was rusty in FOTC and didn't take Frazier seriously, I can't see da Norton 2 version losin to none since, together with Quarry 2, they were the closest versions to his mythic prime.

 

I think Ali on March 8, 1971, would have beaten any other heavyweight who ever lived.

 

Ali was incredible. But there is an entire industry dedicated to making excuses for that loss.

 

Not from me. He got his ass beat. Mic drop. The problem is that Joe peaked that night and IMO was never really the same, even in Manila. Ali was 180 degrees removed from that.

 

There really shouldn't be any excuses--Joe fought the fight of his life and gave as courageous a performance as you'll ever see. He was simply not going to be denied that night!!