a prime ali in the 70's.

you know I think you are pretty much correct.

With the caveat that who knows how long he could have maintained his '64-'67 form, you cannot just automatically assume he would have an 8 year peak instead of 3. But without an exile he should have extended it to some degree.

 

Yeah, that definitely calls for speculation.

What one can say is that he was never out of shape in the 60's. He always trained well.

It wasn't until after he got a taste of "civilian" life during his exile that he often neglected training afterwards. And even then, and with quite a bit of his legs lost during the exile, he only lost two times before he got old and shot.

My best guess would be that he puts together a number of defenses that surpasses Louis's then retires (perhaps undefeated, but could also include a loss to Norton). After a while he comes back and eventually loses enough times to retire for good.

The big thing here is that I believe that Frazier and Foreman would have been reduced to footnotes in HW history, as nothing more than dangerous contenders.

All speculation, of course.

 

Frazier and Norton would still have been very tough opponents for Ali. But yes,he would have dominated like he did circa 1964-67. With his career uninterupted,he may have been unbeaten for around seven years or so

 

Norton would get his ass smashed by a prime ali, this stupid myth OF norton would be always a stylistical problem for a prime ali.. Is a complete **** based on nothing, ali 66 was the day and ali 70s was the Night. Ali would have kicked the ass OF Holmes in the 70s

 

Even the Ali of 1970-75 would have stopped Leon before the halfway mark.

 

Still loses to Frazier.

 

Agreed as most of know his exile did take a bite out of his legs and while starting in Frazier 2 he regained the ability it was never at the 67 level again.

 

It would have been a great thing to see wouldn't it? Frazier,Foreman,Norton,Holmes up against the A+ version of Ali.
My guess is he dominates the decade but would not blitz everyone and may even lose the odd fight. I am sure he would not retire either and carry on well into the 80s, as the spotlight was too much for him to step away from. Incidently, I wonder which 80s fighters would then capitalise on this reduced Ali, as Spinks and Holmes did?

 

It's no mean thing for a "speedy" fighter to lose his best years like that and still come back like he did.

 

I don't think he would have done much better than he did to be honest. It wasn't as if he was a completely different fighter in the '70's.

 

I know it's speculation but I disagree that Foreman would have been a footnote. But for that loss to Ali I think Foreman would have dominated the division for a number of years. In fact, I think had that fight actually taken place in the US without the loose ropes and the delay, the outcome may very well have been different, but I'm probably in the minority on this topic.

 

What he lost in mobility he gained in "man strength". Thought he clearly lost to Frazier in the first match personally.

 

Oh yeah, totally, he goes 61-0 just like he did in real life.

 

You're alone here. 60s Ali danced. Graciously fleet footed. 70s Ali, not so much, quite flat footed. No longer dodged as many punches with his hands held low.

Just watch and compare from the fight against Cleveland Williams and then any Frazier's, Foreman, Norton's.