Could Mohammad Ali (in his prime) compete with the boxers of today?

Wladimir was dominant made 18 title defenses

 

He was more dominant than Lewis frankly or Ali

 

I don't know if I'm part of "they". Personally I don't exclude that Lewis and Wlad could be beat by sub 220 lbs fighters even though they probably would be favorites for me in most match-ups.

I just acknowledge the point that Coijmar made as valid. Namely that there is a reason other than random chance that no one of the size of past greats like Ali, Holmes etc have managed to become dominant in the last two decades. It might be random, but my guess is that it isn't.

I also don't think it's because just the 6'2-6'3, 210-220 lbs segment goes to other American sports, since it still wouldn't affect the talent pool outside of the US much. But the best from outside USA have been at least 6'5, 240 lbs..

I don't say this because I like modern day HWs better, I don't, it's just because it's where my logic takes me.

 

Yes, it's just trolling to deny that Wlad was dominant.

 

Well you could reasonably argue that Vitali was actually the best heavyweight of that era since Wladimir never beat him but Vitali is also a big heavyweight so it doesn't help the argument that the smaller heavies could do well in that era. All the talented smaller heavyweights like Chagaev and Povetkin ended up losing to Wladimir or Vitali

 

Rubbish. Joshua has to beat Wilder and Furey to be considered dominant and both Klits never had to face their brother who was undoubtedly the best of the rest whichever one you favor.

 

I really don't think you can to be honest. Safety (Rightfully so) for the fighters have become the biggest concern. Therefor what old time trainers used to preach SPARRING and very hard is not practiced as much. Its one of the reasons we don't see as many specialist as we had in the past. Fighters don't learn what they really do best. From heavy to fly weight fighters generally look the same in today's game. We don't see Great defensive specialist like Pep, Whitaker, or Benitez in their primes. Fighters that had one attribute but that one attribute was so great, it was almost impossible to overcome like Marciano, Foreman, Mugabi, Olivaires , "Little Red Lopez. J.Jackson, all those fighters were average as far as skill and defensive capabilities, but their tremendous power more than compensated for them usually. Look at what Duran was capable of. Duran was capable of being very aggressive, yet almost impossible to hit cleanly. That takes a great deal of physical talent, but most importantly yrs and yrs of sparring almost daily along with all the fights he had. Also something that"s rarely mentioned today, great trainers. Trainers that were able to recognize what a particular fighter did best and honed that particular skill set. In other words they didn't try and turn a G.Foreman into Muhammad Ali. A lot of the fighters today are trying to do what Mayweather jr did. And they or their trainers don't seem to understand the hrs and yrs behind Mayweather jr. and more importantly his father and uncles had behind them . Boxing was at it's zenith between the lat 30's thru the 90's Unless some medical techniques comes up were brain trauma can be reversed completely we won't see fighters like we saw during those 7 decades again. The risk versus the reward is far to great. Esp when we consider the 100 of thousands of fighters who were never world class world wide.

 

No champion ever faced every contender available so no Joshua would not have to beat Wilder unless Wilder showed he was better than all the other contenders which he seems unwilling to do. Jarrell Miller would be heavily favored over everyone Wilder has beaten.

Wladimir not fighting Vitali is a better case but regardless of which one you think was best they clearly demonstrated their superiority over the smaller heavies of that era. Vitali was also inactive in 2006, 2007, 2013, and 2014 so Wadimir was clearly the best active heavyweight those years.

 

One guy around Ali's height who did pretty well recently was Magomedrasul Majidov. He is only 6'3 but managed to beat Anthony Joshua and Ivan Dychko in the amateurs despite his lack of height. I don't know if he would have panned out as a pro though.

 

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he'll magically forget to reply to that

 

He did above but didn't quote. Reckons he don't have to beat Wilder to be considered dominant LOLOL. He's compelled to cast shade on Wilder as he weighed under 215 last outing when knocking out a current top contender - a similar weight to the multitude of old heavyweight champions he goes on and on and on and on about not being able to compete nowadays as they were too small

 

wtf you wouldnt have to face the other (major title) champion to be dominant????!

Where are you getting this crap?

Wlad did dominate for a while towards the end of his reign when his bro was gone but sadly it was his undoing. It meant facing at least fair opposition, and that was always touch and go with wlad. He could only squeeze in so many crudashell pianetas and pulevs before he got found out again. If vitali had still been prime and around, it wouldnt have been long before Wlad got another title again.

 

No champion has fought every top contender of their era even Ali missed out on some guys. I would rate Wilder behind Povetkin and Klitschko who Joshua has already beaten. It would be nice if Joshua fought him but it would also be nice if Joshua faced Jarrell Miller, Hughie Fury, Simon Kean, Daniel Dubois, Martin Ilunga, etc. But it's probable Joshua won't find time to fight all of them.

 

Where on earth do you get that idea from? There are all kinds of styles and ways to box today… just as there have always been.