Ali is overrated: A cruiserweight the size of Chris Byrd with less athletic ability

Fixed.

 

There's a decent argument for that. But comparing today's era with the 60-70's, one shouldn't forget that an ancient Holyfield really beat one of today's top HWs (Valuev). The same Holyfield who in his prime had at least some trouble with ancient versions of Foreman (who in his prime was beaten by an aging Ali) and Holmes (who once was Ali's sparring partner).

 

Ali was 6'2"; his 6'3" measurement was inflated. Holmes and Foreman were legitimate 6'3" guys.

 

Still, his reach was close to 80", and he certainly wasn't an undersized heavyweight by any means.

 

But Valuev is no where near the class of the Klitschkos. It's a tough situation because if there was a superheavyweight division, there really aren't too many fighters of that size to really make it a division. I think we are in a transitional period. Maybe in 10 years, there will be enough talented 230+ fighters to make a superheavyweight division practical. Right now, the Klits have to get their props for being the first men of that size in history to have such great boxing skills. As much as it pains me, h2h, the Klits would probably knockout most of the great heavyweights in history, and not let anyone else even get close to them. Ali may be the lone exception, but no one knows how Ali would handle a fighter like either of the Klits.

P4P, they are not as impressive, but still very good. No hate.

 

Yeah, this is hard to say. But let's do it like this: Vitaly lost to an old Lewis who when younger and better just narrowly edged Mercer who inturn clearly lost to a 40+ Holmes who... You get the picture.

Also, Wlad was clearly beaten by guys that were very, very far from great. So it's not like these guys are unbeatable monsters. But yes, they look good in many h2h match-ups with their combination of size and skill.

 

You cannot be serious.

If you are, please leave this site and never come back. You don't boxing if that is the case.

 

prime ali would be wearing every heavyweight belt today-easily

 

Can you imagine Ali quitting on his stool, in his prime, BECAUSE HIS SHOULDER HURT!?!?!!?


GTFO!

 

H2H I would not make Ali too much of an underdog against Chris Byrd. He would have little chance against the Klitschko's as they are tall, and would be without hope against Valuev, who should unite the heavyweight titles sometime next year,

 

:rofl

 

Ali was more solidly built than Chris Byrd. Check the photos and the films; you can see more body mass, especially in the upper body, in Ali.

I don't think Byrd could have survived the kind of physical beating that Ali took in the third Frazier fight.

As for athletic ability, are you aware that Ali is generally regarded as one of the greatest athletes ever to fight at heavyweight? Ali's speed and fluidity were astounding; that's why Ali could get away with so many tricks that other fighters couldn't afford to try, such as leaning back from the jab, etc.

 

Sometimes posts on this forum nearly take my breath away. Why start a post on a DISCUSSION forum starting with "I don't care what anyone says"....
Anyone who makes such a foolish comment as the thread to this post is a) under the age of 24 b) Never fought a heavyweight c) no right calling himself a fan of pugilism.
Size beyond 16 stone is irrelevant. Heart, stamina, skill, speed, chin, parries, slips,counters,etc, etc. Byrd isn't an ATG in this poor era. In the 1920's he'd have been picked apart and sparked by Jack Johnson (in round 25) , beaten to every punch by Louis, flattened and outworked by Marciano, KO'd in 3 by Foreman or Liston and utterly humiliated by a prime Holmes and Lennox Lewis.
Crazy post mate.

 

Im guessing sarcasm ?

 

Liston did.

Although it's hard not to consider Ali over-rated (no, he did not **** rainbows) he was among the very toughest of all heavies, really amazingly tough.

I do think he was a bit of a sham in the 70's but he also lost a good chunk of what should have been his prime.

Wlad would have a chance against a prime Ali, but not a real big chance. Vit would get carved up. Against the 70's Ali, the chance gets quite a bit bigger.