1967 Ali vs FOTC Ali

He looked like **** in the first fight against Norton (which Norton of course played a big part in), so here I would favour the Clay who looked very good beating dangerous Moore. But when Ali met Norton the first time he wasn't in very good shape and he was probably also a bit distracted since he'd just seen his chance of another shot at Frazier's title shot to hell. But I would probably still bet on that Ali beating the Clay who faced Jones.

And the Ali that rematched Norton beats Clay IMO.

 

Yeah, we're on the same page here.

 

"If you put the Ali who fought Zora Folley and Cleveland Williams against the Ali who fought Joe Frazier and George Foreman, the young Ali would win. I was more experienced when I was older. I was stronger. I had more belief in myself. Except for Sonny Liston, the fighters I fought when I was young weren't near the fighters Foreman and Frazier were. Williams and Folley was light work. But I had my speed when I was young. I was faster on my legs, and my hands were faster. The young Ali would dance, move, get in and out. He would beat the older Ali all around the ring. The older Ali wouldn't quit. When I was old, against a young version of me, I'd use the rope-a-dope, make charges, try to knock him out. But I was better when I was young."

This is on page 454 in Hauser's book. Immediatly after Dundee also says that Ali was better pre-exile than post-exile, and that he would have peaked during the exile.