Muhammad Ali Vs 6'7 Super heavy Clone Era?

Lewis started dominating around 1997, after the peak years of Tyson and Holyfield had already passed. Even then, a 37 year old Holyfield pushed him as hard as possible in their rematch. This was a Holyfield who was only fighting in spurts and was months away from struggling vs John Ruiz. Even Lewis's trainer, Manny Steward, told Lewis that Holyfield was a past it fighter while Lewis was enjoying his peak years from 97-02.

Then you had a very very weak era for a loong time. Even then, Wlad got stopped 3 times by smaller men. He beat Byrd in Germany in 2006 and for the next decade, he mostly fought out of Germany. It doesn't matter if the refs were American. Wlad was heavily favoured in Germany and was treated as the hometown son.

No one is denying that very good big men like Lewis or Wlad would dominate good smaller fighters for the most part. Its just that during the peak years of Lewis, Wlad, Fury etc. there were hardly any great smaller men around. And even the decent smaller men (like Marovic for example, or Cunningham) managed to hold their own.

There is a reason why Fury didn't want to fight Usyk. He said it as far back as 2021 when he said he wouldn't fight Usyk even if the later beat Joshua. Fury said he had struggled vs the slippery speedy Cunningham. Fury managed to maul Cunningham nonetheless because Cunningham was a decent fighter, not a great one. But Fury knew in his heart that if he ran into a smaller quick fighter who is durable and slippery, he would not favour that style. So he did everything possible to price himself out until Turki stepped in.

It is for these reasons that i believe the same speed and work rate that has allowed Usyk to be successful would also allow other smaller skilled, fast and durable men to be successful. Oh sure, if you are a decent but not great smaller man (like Cunningham or Marovic), you probably aren't beating the great big men. But if you are a talented skilled fast and durable smaller man? You have a great chance. Not a 100% guarantee of course.

 

A high bar to ask for Usyk is a rare breed of fighter not like these kinds of fighters are common. There's a reason Opetaia has been hesitant to move up despite seeming to fit the profile

 

Opetaia has a potentially average chin. Also he wants to secure his legacy as undisputed cruiserweight first. I don't think his hesitation has to do with concern whether he could beat bigger men. I think it has more to do with wanting to be the #1 guy at cruiser and so he can get a mandatory shot at the heavyweight title without having to clean out the entire heavyweight division. Kind of like Usyk himself.

Do i think Opetaia is going to be undisputed at heavy? No. I think his defense is too leaky and his chin is possibly quite average. But offensively, i believe he has the power and variety to ko any heavyweight. Its just whether he can handle their punches or not.

 

It's arguable that the second best HW fighter in the world is Agit Kabayel, and he is about 6'2. Moses Itauma is about 6'4 and Richard Torrez Jr is about 6'2. If by the end of 2027 the best HWs in the world are Usyk, Kabayel, Itauma, Richard Torrez Jr and a wildcard like Jai Opetaia, I wouldn't at all be surprised

 

If this were true Fury wouldn't have struggled with a pillow fisted 210 pounder

 

And even Usyk isn't small. He's as big as prime George Foreman

 

Andie MacDowell was hot as hell licking chocolate off that spoon in Multiplicity, in a nightie. I don't know why I'm thinking about that just now but mmm.

 

Terrell was 212 when he fought Ali, and even fought under 200 pounds. Not really comparable to a modern heavy,

I believe Ali would still be the man today, but we can't pretend that there is no difference in era's either. He's have a tough road to hoe.

Still the greatest, though.

 

I think a twenty something year old Ali outboxes Usyk, Joshua, Wilder, Povetkin, Valuev, and most of the guys of the past 25 years. Tyson Fury, Lennox Lewis, and the Klitschko’s would be harder fights but I still think he does very well against them

 

He also didn’t always use his reach to the best of his ability and didn’t have much snap behind his punches

 

* jots notes *

 

Well, it's mostly a family-friendly comedy, just so expectations aren't too off-base. I happen to find her super hot regardless. Listen, I enjoyed this film for multiple reasons. I'm just saying.