1967 Ali vs. 1978 Spinks 1974 Ali vs. 1978 Spinks 1964 Ali vs. 1980 Spinks 1974 Ali vs. 1980 Spinks As I have it: Ali by UD Ali by late knockout Spinks by UD Ali by close decision
Yep. Ali was all movement back then and was not prepared to take big punches. He also had never gone 15 or even 12 before. Spinks always had unbelievable stamina and his fighting style was similar to that of Frazier's and Norton's. I personally believe that most pressure fighters, including Spinks would beat Ali on the first go.
I don't know, pal. It's not that I think that's impossible but I can't see Spinks beating a young Ali. He'd maybe go the distance, quite possibly giving him pressure but I see Ali never giving him a chance to really nail much, nothing serious for sure yet and Ali getting a decision.
You may have a point. However, I was just thinking with how good Foreman was with cutting off the ring that 60s Ali would have a lot of trouble with him actually.
Muhammad Ali of 1964 and beyond until his forced exile was amazing, his footspeed was spectacular, he had hand speed, had enormous stamina, just would not stand still for anyone, that includes Leon Spinks, that Ali did not know what the Rope A Dope that Leon took advantage of was in 1964. The Ali from the 1970's was chubby and vulnerable. Ali would have cut Spinks to ribbons. He even knocked out a game Zora Folley in 1967. Ali could take a punch in the 1960's during his first title reign, in 1966 he went 15 rounds with George Chuvalo.
He did, that is what I was saying about his 1966 bout with Chuvalo, come 1970's his attributes were gone, Rope A Dope and so on, easy to hit, vulnerable. 1964-1967 version was unbeatable, he was a new style in that era.
I do not agree entirely about the Chuvalo fight. It was a rugged affair and Ali took some hard body blows and there were 3 or 4 real tough rounds between Ali and Chuvalo, but I thought that was mostly a park stroll for Ali. Easily Ali's toughest fight of the 60s was Doug Jones. He was the only opponent who consistently gave Ali a difficult time and the only one you could logically surmise beat Ali in that frame of time.
True in 1963, but Ali from his first title reign was unbeatable. When you are learning that loss could be very possible, but for instance the second Henry Cooper title bout on May 21 1966, Ali was not knocked down in that fight, he tore up poor Henry, gave him 14 stitches. Ali did not play around with Cooper that time. It is about learning your craft.
1967 Ali vs. 1978 Spinks - Ali by TKO / Cut 8-11 1974 Ali vs. 1978 Spinks - Ali by a rather close UD (2-3 Rounds) 1964 Ali vs. 1980 Spinks - Ali by mid round stoppage ~6-9 (Although Leon will hurt him probably 1-2 times) 1974 Ali vs. 1980 Spinks - Ali by mid round stoppage ~7-10 (Ali wins relatively safely and easy, but less spectacularly)
Ali by early rounds stoppage Ali by middle rounds stoppage Ali by early rounds stoppage Ali by early/middle rounds stoppage
