Could anybody beat prime Ali? If not, who comes the closest.

His toughest matchup would be Rocky Marciano. He said this himself after being in the ring with him.

Marciano is a tougher version of Fraziers swarming style. He hits harder with both hands, and he has a better chin.

Johnson and Louis also have a chance, but Marciano has the best shot.

 

Ali acknowledged Folley was past his prime.

 

You don't think 3.5years out of the ring is a factor? Ali was 29 when he fought Frazier in FOTC.
Frazier fans never tire of telling us Joe was washed up when he fought Foreman,how old was Joe? 29.

 

Larry and Lennox have the best chances imo.

 

Past his prime ,but he had been top ten rated for 12 consecutive years ,had not lost a fight for nearly 4 years and since losing to number one contender Terrell he had beaten:
Mildenberger
Clark
Daniels
Zech
Bonavena
Foster
So not entirely shot!

 

Cleveland Williams was badly damaged goods.
There's no doubt that Ali was in incredible form that night but saying he was unbeatable based on how he looked against the opponent is way off.

 

As for Zora Folley, I can't remember seeing a fighter with less punch resistance. The last punch perhaps didn't even land.
Ali is underrated as a puncher though. He punched so fast that every punch that landed was a shocker.

 

Prime Ali could only hammer what was put in front of him. A lot of talk about this opponent and that opponent proves little because they were this and that. The thing is none of them proved he wasn't the GOAT either.

Ali beat some incredible opposition both pre exile and post. He may have dropped a couple past prime but he won some great ones too. Guys like Holmes and Louis go their entire careers without the opportunity to fully prove themselves vs other greats. Tyson decimated an entire division but didn't get the really big chances until declined, and he failed of course. At least Ali got to show some of what he truly had, even if a lot was post prime.

 

Well you may be right, unfortunately we will never know.:-(

 

I'd give Lewis a more than good chance of beating Ali

 

Lennox and Larry Holmes would stand the best chance. I'd still favour Ali,though.

 

You just have to look at the body difference. When Ali fought doug jones and henry cooper in the early 60's he was undeveloped. Now, if you watch this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ4LGdkhCig
Look at how much his body is filled out. That was in 1965.

You're sadly mistaken if you think the early 60's Ali is on the same level as the mid 60's Ali.

 

He fought Liston 8 months after he fought Henry Cooper.

 

The Ali from Liston until Folley gets beaten by no one before or since. The slower post exile Ali gets beaten by Holmes, Lewis, Holyfield, Louis, plus those that did beat him.