Ali after comeback

When he came back in 1970,Muhammad was roughly the same fighting weight as before the lay off,but he was slightly fuller in the face.

As for his style,it's well known that he lost about 15% of his pre exile speed,although up until 1974 (inclusive) he was still amazingly fast for a heavyweight.

 

It was also during this phase of Muhammad's career,that he proved,beyond all doubt,that he could take a shot equally as well as he could avoid one.

 

Put Simply, he physically matured from a young man into mature man, that might come with a loss of speed but would be compensated with an increase in physical strengh, Ali was so fast pre exile, he could afford to lose a degree or two, but that added physical strength came in handy for the younger prime men he was having to face, having said that, Ali did often mask his true capabilities after his return, by coasting during many fights, plus bad knuckles sometimes hindered his punching, The Ali of Frazier 1st / Quarry 2nd - and only selected rounds of other fights hinted at his true capabilities, the Roadshow Mentality however enabled him to enjoy well paid Holiday "Ëvents" Nobody got hurt, and the TV advertisers got plenty of air time, his opponents got well paid too,
And the Magazine got plenty to Ink about, and Ali on the Cover was a top seller Happy days all round.

 

It was a stronger era than the pre-exile era he swept through. His flaws were more glaring and his talents were put in less flattering relief.

 

Yeah pretty much the same, maybe more well muscled pre exile to be honest.

 

He was in better shape during the early 60's. But he seemed to carry the weight up to 220 pounds rather well during his comeback.

 

Ali looked really good in the Norton 2,Frazier 2,and Foreman fights. Especially in the Norton one. Really ripped.

 

The major difference with Ali was his legs. Except for brief spurts, he really couldn't dance and evade and stick from far out as he did before the ****ers banned him.

 

Furhermore I would assert the 1967 Ali who was getting stronger punches, and with all the quickness and fleetness of foot was so beyond anyone he would later face, that the 1967 Ali would have had an esay time with Foreman and Frazier.
See when Ali got back his legs to some extent, he had no trouble vs Frazier II.

ANd the years that he and we lost--if he had fought straight though 1967-70--were meant to be his best prime years, and likely even better than 1967 Ali. Because again he was getting more powerful punches while maintiang his legs and speed.

The Williams fight remains something unique in HW boxing for all time.
Someone who was just so much faster of hand and foot than anyone before or since. Of course, he had so many other attributes like ring smarts, that also predominate. Ali would find a way.. As witnessed by the Foreman fight. He did not intend the rope a dope, but when faced with Foreman cutting off the ring, he figured out a plan B immediately...

 

Good post,Phys. I think that Frazier and Norton would always have given him problems though. Albeit with a bit more daylight between them on the scorecards.

 

Thanks.
I actually think Norton more than Joe--as again evidenced by Frazier II which Ali won going away, and would have KOed Joe in the 2nd if the f'n ref didn't stop the fight and claim he heard the bell when there was 1 minute left, and Joe was on ***** street!

Few now know, but ALi and his people were so pissed afterwards that they sued the ref Perez claiming deliberae interference and conspiracy. Was thrown out due to lack of proof of "deliberateness."

But re Norton. His reach was what even longer? And had a great jab. And apparently read Ali's punches well. I still think 67 Ali would have had the edge in those great legs and would have been easier for him than 70's Ali. But Norton prob goes the distance with 67 Ali and loses a close decision with Ali not taking much punishment being the difference!

Those legs allowed him to dance around an opponent and only he would chose when to engage first with the long range jab. ANd he could have kept it that way throughout a fight if he wanted to.

 

yes ali's legs in the 60s when he was peak was the deciding factor for many who think he was the best. no heavy could move like him at his best. when his legs diminished he got hit more.

 

This.

Plus, he had a great training ethic as a young man; as an older man, not so much.