Ali's legacy if he retired after Manila

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MaccaveliMacc, Aug 18, 2025 at 4:47 AM.


  1. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    A lot of people saying Ali should have retired after Manila. If he did so and stayed retired, how would his legacy look like? On one hand, he would have 6 title defences less, wouldn't have the guys like Young and Shavers on his resume and wouldn't become the only 3 time lineal heavyweight champion in history. On the other hand, we wouldn't see his decline in real time, wouldn't see a toss up fight with Norton and a stinker with Evangelista and he wouldn't have a loss to Spinks and of course Holmes and Berbick. Would he still be the GOAT?
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Aug 18, 2025 at 4:47 AM
    MaccaveliMacc, Aug 18, 2025 at 4:47 AM
    #1
  2. Smoochie

    Smoochie G.R.E.B G.O.A.T Full Member

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    Should have retired with a loss to Norton imo on da' third fight but still, Manilla is a picture-perfect, movie-like ending. Same with Frazier.
    I would rate him still the same since I rarely rate the losses fighters have when they go on for too long. Same with Roid Jones.
     
    Smoochie, Aug 18, 2025 at 4:55 AM
    Smoochie, Aug 18, 2025 at 4:55 AM
    #2
    Flash24 and MaccaveliMacc like this.
  3. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

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    His legacy was cemented after the Rumble. Most of the controversial decisions came after it, virtually all of them.
     
    ThatOne, Aug 18, 2025 at 5:25 AM
    ThatOne, Aug 18, 2025 at 5:25 AM
    #3
    Flash24 and MaccaveliMacc like this.
  4. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 Full Member

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    He shouldn’t have had Shavers or Young on his resume in the first place nor Norton in the 3rd bout… the only fighter we’d probably ask questions about is Young because of what he’d go on to do, really I don’t think Young should’ve got the call to fight Ali and at that point that’s probably why he was picked lol.
     
    Journeyman92, Aug 18, 2025 at 6:55 AM
    Journeyman92, Aug 18, 2025 at 6:55 AM
    #4
  5. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Nothing he did after Manila really added much to his legacy. If anything it did the opposite with the amount of close decisions he won.
     
    themaster458, Aug 18, 2025 at 7:06 AM
    themaster458, Aug 18, 2025 at 7:06 AM
    #5
  6. Yorbals

    Yorbals Member Full Member

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    Probably has about the same legacy, more or less. Probably would have saved a bit of his health though
     
    Yorbals, Aug 18, 2025 at 7:37 AM
    Yorbals, Aug 18, 2025 at 7:37 AM
    #6