Ali the most physically strongest in boxing history

Of course he was. Along with the being the strongest, finest conditioned, fastest, most iron-chinned, most skilled fighter in history, Mr. Ali also possessed the greatest mini-fro of all time.

In his prime, he was much better than anti-lock brakes.

In fact, to keep up with modern times, we here at the department have digitally revised his actual career to more appropriately fit the contemporary view of Mr. Ali.

Needless to say, given what we saw out of the fight between Mr. Ali and Mr. Foreman, and Mr. Foreman and Mr. Frazier, we had more than enough cause to promptly alter the FOTC to a fantasy-friendly 13-2 Mr. Ali victory, thus rendering the trilogy itself unnecessary. The second thing we did was digi-swap out Mr. Cooper from the first fight with Mr. Cleveland Williams for a more believable left hook knockdown sequence. And so forth.

The revised career set will be completed shortly and, I assure you, makes much more sense in the grand scheme of things.

 

I used to think that too. but that three years prolonged Alis career. There was nothing better to come from Ali. Just more performances as good as the Folley and Williams level ....only against younger better opponents. The key thing about the Williams and Folley fights is A fighter only looks as good as the other guy lets him.

Bottom line, ALI did great with his career, proberbly greater because of the way it went.

 

Let's not overstate Ali's strength. Overall physical strength I can't imagine a more powerful fighter than Foreman. Ali being able to handle Foreman in clinches does not mean he was in fact physically stronger than Foreman. Young did not manhandle Foreman. He out boxed him. Nothing more. Young was a physically weak hwt by comparison.

 

well of course Ali would say something self serving like that..would you like your post to be stricken from the record?

 

If it were not for Ali being banned from the sport he would have added perhaps 10 or more additional title defenses to his resume. Who would have eventually beat him is total speculation but no doubt he would have forged a championship reign second only to Louis.

 

Ali would have surpassed Louis, and retired undefeated, unless TPTB found a way to stop him.

 

Ali, after his exile was a much stronger fighter. In his fight against Ellis in late 71, he looked huge. Not fat but muscular, especially in his arms/shoulders. He knew how to use his leverage in the ring for sure. He was a big heavyweight during this period. Much bigger than a lot of his opponents. Foreman, Liston, Norton or Lyle are fighters, who I feel were physically stronger. Ali, carried his strength/stamina over the length of a fight better though. Norton, probably exceeds Ali h2h though. Norton, was always a bull against boxers. Foreman, h2h was probably the strongest.

 

It was leverage, speed and agility, NOT superior brute strength. You put Ali in a bar or a back alley with Bonavena, Chuvalo, or especially Foreman and any one of them would break his neck. Foreman has been photo'ed carrying a cow on his shoulders.

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Any so called "manhandling" done by Ali was done by way of the three attributes that I previously mentioned, not via sheer strength.

 

No, because he WAS stronger in the clinches. I'm not even an Ali fan, but he showed strength in the fight against a very strong Foreman.

 

Ali was stronger than you'd suspect, perhaps, but not the strongest. The strongest top fighter of Ali's era was probably Foreman. I agree with those who say that technique and leverage was a big factor for Ali managing to control him in the clinches.

And I don't think Ali got much stronger, if stronger at all, after the lay-off. When he whipped himself into shape in the 70's (which he rarely did) he was about 212-215, about the same he was in his best efforts in the 60's.

 

Didn't Tyson bench press 220 lbs for 10 reps when he was 13? He probably had the most pure strength, he couldve also been a GOAT powerlifter with that build of his

 

And what use is that in boxing??

 

Physical strength is an asset but given the choice of being able to land regular rapid punches against top class boxers OR being the "physically most strongest in history" most fighters will opt for rapid top class accuracy.

Physical strength is not really something that can be fully utalised in punching technique.. The physically most strongest man needs to develop snap and a fast technique delivery to coincide with foot positioning, distance and reacting to openings instinctively before he will knock anybody out.

Having said that Ali was very strong. The mayo clinic tested him with a full medical and found he was one of the physically strongest men they had ever tested. Yet he was never a puncher

Did Ali use it to his advantage?

 

Ali definitely did NOT man handle the guys that are being mentioned in this thread. He used his ring smarts, yeah, but man handle them? GTOH.