Best version of Muhammad Ali in your opinion

Forget the fact that Big Cat had been shot. As fast as he was, he couldn't connect. Ali was bursting with crazy energy. He was absolutely in the zone.

Second career Ali's peak was Foreman. But his best performance between Folley and Foreman? My vote is for Jerry Quarry II. Even if Mike Quarry had dethroned Bob Foster for the LHW Title, that pick me up for Jerry still wouldn't have been nearly enough. JQ wouldn't have gassed nearly as quickly as he did (with his adrenalin completely out of control, exhausting him to the limit of a four round bout), but he couldn't have been competitive either. One did not counterpunch Muhammad Ali. Jerry buried a few solid hooks into Ali's body, but unlike Frazier and Chuvalo, he'd get dispirited when they seemingly had no effect.

Ali came in at 216-1/2, significant because he had previously weighed 226 for Mac Foster a few months earlier, and 227 for Buster Mathis seven months before. It was Jerry's misfortune that like the GOAT's British opponents, Ali trained hard and took him seriously. He didn't do this with guys like Blin, Lubbers, Coopman, Young or for Norton I. He never underestimated Jerry, who would rebound to have a monstrous 5-0 1973.

The shoeshine knockout of Brian London was blinding.

 

Terrell/Williams/Foley was Ali's absolute peak IMO.

In his fights before that, he was still honing his craft & working out the kinks in his style (i.e.: his improvements in the 2nd Cooper fight as compared to the 1st).

After his exile, he never again was as consistent & fluid in his movements as just before that.

 

November '66 - March '67

 

Hard to say ,my choice Ali vs Cleveland Williams.

 

As per consensus I plump for 1966/67 incarnation of Muhammad. His skills,stamina and workrate were at their highest and he was already developing that superb ring generalship that would come to the fore in the following decade.

His best form post-exile? The years 1972-74 were his best of that phase of his career. Quarry II,Norton II,Frazier II and Foreman bouts were his best performances.

 

I pick the Ali from the Williams fight. Even though that Williams was literally and figuratively shot.

I also nominate Ali from Liston 1. True he was only 22 and perhaps not as skilled as what he became 2 years later. But that night, its like he entered into a time machine. He was fighting with the skill and experience of a 15 year veteran while actually being a 4 year old pro fighter. The combinations he landed in the first round that buckled Liston's knees. Unbelievable.

My ranking:

Williams
Liston 1
Terrell
Folley

Comeback:

Foreman
Norton 2
Frazier 2

 

Ali's performance against Folley was his all-time best IMHO. Lots of folks will cite his performance against "Big Cat" Williams but he was a totally shopworn opponent. Foley was still a solid contender when they fought early 1967. Ali still had the dazzling speed, reflexes, and timing but also was developing a harder punch. I always maintain if Ali was able to continue his career uninterrupted he would have been as close to a perfect fighter as you could get during his exile years of 1967-1970. Nobody in boxing history would have approached that level of greatness!!

 

Unpopular opinion, the Frazier rematch, he had a lot more experience in competitive fights by then, knew the 15 rounds, would’ve been motivated to win and hadn’t declined significantly.

 

His first title reign, pick any of his fights really.
He had everything and was leagues above everyone else.

 

1964 Sonny Liston

 

I will say, I think Ali was slowly starting to get figured out by 67. Foley was starting to hit Ali with a left hook as he was leaning back being stationary and was doing it a lot, kind of conicidental that,that was what floored him 4 years later

 

We possibly never saw it we don’t know if he may have progressed even more between ‘67 and 70 without the break.
He may or may not so for me his absolute peak was the Williams/Terrell/Folley ‘66/‘67 period.
If he had improved beyond that though he would have been a pretty frightening proposition because he was starting to sit down on his punches.

 

Folley was Ring Magazine's number 1 contender when Ali fought him in 1967 and was consistently a top-10 ranked fighter for several years. He was anything but a "bum of the month" type opponent-which needs to be considered.

 

67 Ali…was the last time you had an active champion fight 7 decent contenders in a years span. That kind of activity sharpens a man. Other men had good runs but none against that comp in a year at hw