Ali vs skilled super heavyweights

Personally, I tend to give Ali a pass for the Holmes loss. I don't even count that fight.

 

Thats exactly how I see it. Lewis was always ready to make it a Dog-Fight. He would rough him up, and after noticing that there was no dangerous power coming back, would go to the body with vicious shots, winning rounds by just doing more damage.

I do also believe Wlad beeing very competitive just by range plus the jab. The same goes for AJ, who might benefit some of Lewis abilitys.

I don´t see Vitali winning that one. Neither by power, nor boxing ability.

--> Wlad, Lewis and AJ could go either way, Vitali won´t make it. Please be rational and stop posting about the holy cow Muhammad Ali.

"His biggest asset actually is getting away from punches. He has never been hit by a good punch on the chin."
- Rocky Marciano (1966)

 

Foreman couldn't use his strength against Ali successfully.

Ali was incredibly strong.

I don't think Lewis imposes much of anything on him.

 

Replacing Foreman in Zaire with a focused Lennox Lewis?

I would definitely not bet on that one!

 

All very difficult fights for him, Wlad being the most difficult, I'd say.

Bruno and Fury showed you can outbox Lewis and Wlad, but neither of them was at their peak for these fights. It's true, though, that a past it Holy gave peak Lewis a run for his money...

But, man, difficult, difficult task this for a 6'3 boxer. If any such fighter could do it, it would be peak Ali. I'll say that much.

 

Muhammad beats them all. Lewis puts up the best fight.

 

Lewis has got a considerable size advantage over the Foreman that fought Ali, both in height and weight. He was undoubtedly stronger with it, wether that would change the outcome of the fight is debatable but the stats don't lie.

 

He beats all of them, end of story

 

I think Foreman was stronger, but Lewis comes pretty damn close.

Holyfield said that Foreman hit him the hardest.
And that was comeback Foreman.
That's obviously not the sole reason I'm picking Foreman, but I do think it says a lot.

 

Lewis doesn't have Foreman's footspeed or ring cutting abilities so the requirement for Ali to have to wrestle with Lewis like he did with Foreman against the ropes isn't the same consideration as the actual fight that Ali had with Foreman.

In fact, if Lewis paws with the jab and tries to box with Ali, then Ali should find good success with the counter right. Lewis was definitely heavier than Foreman but I am not sure that he was stronger functionally. Sure, Lewis pulled people into the uppercut, but the Ali that fought Foreman was a proficient clincher and clearly understood leverage enough for me to not envisage him getting abused by Lewis in the clinch in the way that some might suggest.

Lewis and Wlad for me give Ali his toughest test - skills, size and the power to force Ali to fight each minute of each round.

 

I don’t think people really grasp just how bad the HW division truly is. The pool to pick fighters from is so tiny. Not many great athletes get into boxing anymore after publicaly viewing the demise of Ali and Holyfield . If there are so few great fighters fighting that is a detriment to today’s fighters as believe me they’ve never fought anyone like Ali or foreman. Foreman as an old man came back and destroyed everyone lol. Just goes to show u how good he was and the era. Modern training and size is all good and statistically speaking helps their cause but there not even close to the skill set of men of the past. They haven’t been tested whatso ever except by fat out of shape guys who can’t last 6 rounds let alone 15. Ali embarrasses them all except Lennox who puts on a solid showing.

 

Ali relied on his size and reach a lot. Not having the great power he would have problems with all three. But for now I favour him over Joshua.

 

Football is actually more dangerous than boxing. Read up on the number of football players that end up with concussions and dementia.

 

He would probably have done very well against them.

His speed advantage, combined with their limited reach advantage, could well have played to his advantage.

Observe the Terrell fight.

Having said that, there is still a bit of an unknown in this.

Joe Louis at least put it beyond doubt, that he could feast on this style of fighter!