Best fights between fighters in their best class in their prime

So let me get this straight, a fighter's losses shouldn't be held against him unless he's in his prime?

In that case do we take away Tyson's wins over Holmes, Thomas, etc?

You're a clown.

 

He's by far the biggest Tyson fanboy here. Tyson's losses to Holyfield don't count because he was past his prime, but Tyson keeps his wins over Holmes, Thomas, etc. What a clown.

 

In answer to your question, sparring is not the same as actual combat in the ring, you have head gear on, the gloves are heavier. Muhammad Ali's last actual fight, 3 minute rounds that was scheduled for 15 rounds was against Zora Folley on March 22 1967 in Madison Square Garden, Ali stopped Folley in round 7. He was stripped of his title and boxing license on April 28 1967 for refusing the military draft. He was then convicted of Draft Evasion on June 20 1967, sentenced to 5 years in prison, fined $10,000.00. He posted bond, and appealed his case through the various courts. By the way, who witnessed Ali's sparring sessions, the sources? After no actual combat in the ring, the reflexes start to fade, the legs are lost, the body gains excess weight, and the mind does not prepare for an actual bout the same. When he came back in 1970 after 43 months of actual combat activity, he did not look the same, sure he did hit harder but he tended to tire, using the ropes more, he was more vulnerable. Fighting is full of risks like anything in life but if he had taken another fight against let's say a George Chuvalo, he could have sharpened his skills, working on more stamina. The Fight Of The Century on March 8 1971 may have been a toss up. On March 7 1967 like I posted, Ali was making fun of Joe, because his management did not want him in the ring with as Yank Durham said, Professor Clay (Ali). I just think it would have been a much closer contest, who wins? That would be the answer to the $64,000.00 question. Who knows but fighters should be in possession of all their weapons, it makes for a better battle.

 

How many rounds does a professional fighter need to not be rusty? He fought two world ranked opponents in the span of 5 months, he went nearly 15 rounds in the second fight, just a few seconds short. In that same time span, Joe Frazier fought 2 rounds against Bob Foster. Two rounds in one year leading up to FOTC.
How do you work on your stamina during a fight?

 

Joe Frazier had ring activity on his side, true Ali had 18 in rounds in 43 months but in my opinion, Ali did not look like he did in his first title reign, 1964-1967. I started watching Ali since the first Patterson fight in Nov 1965. Not all fighters are the same, some need more preparation, some less. And there are many that lack confidence to not have a fight before a big fight in fear of a loss, those fighters do lack confidence and are just worried about the all mighty dollar instead of the prestige. Ali looked awful against Bonavena, even Howard Cosell said so. Watching that fight, Ali needed to work on his stamina, he was gassed until the three knockdowns, he needed more work in my opinion.

 

So wish I could say Jones-Toney, I’ll never get over it

 

Shut up you dummy

 

He's a dummy who's making you look like an error in natural selection.

 

Spoken like the adolescent you are.

I'll take that as a compliment coming from the likes of you.

By the way you never answered the question.

 

Realistically more than literally two, one of which was over in three rounds.

Those 18 rounds, are literally all he had in a 4 year span. He fought less than an hour in four years. You'd have to be incredibly naive or have an agenda to say less than an hour of ring time is enough to shave off 3 years of ring rust, let alone prepare you for a monster in Frazier.

Not even remotely true. He did some working out and sparring sure, but it was not "all during that layoff". He'd actually gotten incredibly out of shape.

Sources: https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/clay.jpg

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As you can see here, he's gained quite a bit of weight in the ring with Marciano here in '69.

Also even if he was sparring, and training all that time (which evidently was not the case), they are absolutely not a substitute for ring work.

 

You'll have to use shorter words.

He doesn't know what a compliment is

 

God bless Richard, I have a lot of respect for your opinion and you are one of the real gentlemen posting here.

 

Thank you so much Sir, I also have the utmost respect for you as well, you are a terrific poster, I enjoy our conversations.