I was checking these fights for the difference in hand speed and was struck by how defined Ali`s body was v Williams compared to how he looked v Frazier (1st fight) and Bugner yet fans have said there wasn`t much weight difference, have people slightly underestimated the gap in Ali`s conditioning between these fights?
Ali was never timed though? Mind reading he he never lifted weights. Maybe he was just “thinner” being younger and filled out more? He was definitely turning to flab right at the end though
Say he was only 10- 15 lbs or so heavier, Ali didn't look after himself as much in the 70s. He got lazier in the gym and enjoyed eating more bad food, like many fighters later in their career. His legs had lost some bounce and his body had a little excess fat on it. That said, he was still a very impressive athlete.
He beat Bugner 13-2 , And actually muscled Joe around like he was nothing, FOR THE TITLE, OF COURSE THEY GAVE BUG 2 ROUNDS FOR "SHOWING UP"