Did Ali have the easiest Heavyweight reign 65'-67'

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Il Duce, Nov 30, 2010.

  1. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2009
    Messages:
    25,474
    Likes Received:
    9,364
    Very nicely rounded up Bokaj :good Even between his two title reigns,look at the list of opponents Ali fought.
     
  2. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2010
    Messages:
    6,972
    Likes Received:
    45

    That would be '******ed', Mr. Can't Take a Body Shot:patsch

    Very Well Put Mr. Groove
    Now those fights would have been worth watching.
    Don't you just love watching 15 rounds of Ali -Terrell
    Like having your teeth drilled without novacaine.
     
  3. groove

    groove Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2006
    Messages:
    2,056
    Likes Received:
    26
    well earnie"what's my name" terrell and patterson were the two he wanted to beat badly and made those fights last cuz they kept calling him clay. frazier kept calling him clay when he was in exile. ali didn't like fighters callling him clay ;)
     
  4. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2010
    Messages:
    6,972
    Likes Received:
    45
    Yes, Muhammad Ali punished both Floyd Patterson and then Ernie Terrell.

    Of course the fans out in Las Vegas booed Ali 'unmercifully' after
    torturing Floyd.

    And the boxing public in Houston labeled Ali flat out 'cruel'.

    Of course, the claim is he wanted to torture them, instead of knocking them out.
    Sure.
    What was Brian London, a nice guy, thats why he knocked him out:shock:
     
  5. groove

    groove Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2006
    Messages:
    2,056
    Likes Received:
    26
    at the end of the day ali beat the big punching heavies from when he was young v liston to when he was old v foreman and shavers. frazier was no punching slouch either. ali was never ko'd in a boxing ring against some of the biggest punchers of all time and undefeated before exile. any heavy in history v ali and he has to win on points - not gonna be easy is it lol.
     
  6. MagnaNasakki

    MagnaNasakki Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2006
    Messages:
    7,658
    Likes Received:
    78
    One of the easier reigns, thats first one was, but the easiest? Hell no.

    Not to mention, yes, he does get credit in that he was so good, he made others look worse than we are.

    Other heavyweight champions in history don't necessarily retain the title against the folks that Ali fought 65-67. Do monsters like Foreman, Louis and Holmes make it through? Yes. I'm not sure Johanssen or Braddock, say, do.
     
  7. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2010
    Messages:
    6,972
    Likes Received:
    45
    Magna,,,,

    Good answer, easy yes, but the easiest no.

    Of Ali's (9) defenses, did anyone of the challengers press Ali.
    George Chuvalo pressed the fight, and put up a good showing.
    Karl Mildenberger did much better than expected.

    Thats about it.
     
  8. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2008
    Messages:
    28,662
    Likes Received:
    14,033
    Louis, Foreman and Holmes would in all likelihood beat the challengers Ali beat, but would they get past Liston when they were in the same stage of their career as Ali/Clay was when he did? I actually wouldn't make any of them favourites against that Liston. Certainly not a pretty green Foreman. Louis would have the best chance IMO, but he was decisively beaten by Schmeling at a similar stage.

    I also believe several of these challengers would give Holmes a rocky ride. Lesser fighters than Patterson, Terrell and Folley did. I also think Terrell would have a good chance of bringing Foreman out in pretty deep water.
     
  9. MagnaNasakki

    MagnaNasakki Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2006
    Messages:
    7,658
    Likes Received:
    78
    I meant Holmes, Louis and Foreman of their championship reigns having the title run Ali had.

    At the relatively young, almost green stage Ali was actually at? Not a single one beats Liston the first time around to win the title.

    I said the reign was a tad soft compared to some others. That Ali wasn't primed yet and was just coming into his own as it hit its last year wasn't part of the conversation. Ali is the best, most talented heavyweight ever.
     
  10. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2008
    Messages:
    28,662
    Likes Received:
    14,033
    I know. I just continued on, found it a bit interesting. It's all very hypothetical, of course, but just as you I don't think many other HWs would have bested that Liston in that stage of their careers. Tyson and Louis being the best bets. Louis looked sublime when defeating Baer and Tyson's destruction of Berbick, Spinks et al was something else.
     
  11. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2009
    Messages:
    25,474
    Likes Received:
    9,364
    He certainly was the best and most talented. I would challenge anyone to name me another heavyweight champion who equalled Ali's resume. Quality AND quantity wise.
     
  12. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2010
    Messages:
    6,972
    Likes Received:
    45
    Stevie G,

    On the complete record, no one can match his accomplishments.
    As for quantity, yes fought all comers, good, bad indifferent.
    Quality, no can dispute the amount of great fighters he challenged or defended
    against.

    But, it was a bizarre run from 2/25/65 when he won the title thru his last defense against Zora Folley in 1967
    Agree,,,,,,,
     
  13. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2010
    Messages:
    6,972
    Likes Received:
    45
    Sonny Listons run from 1959 thru 1961 was much more difficult than Ali's defenses.
     
  14. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    Messages:
    9,408
    Likes Received:
    49
    The List

    1) May 25, 1965..............KO 1........Sonny Liston
    2) November 22, 1965......KO 12.......Floyd Patterson
    3) March 29, 1966...........W DEC 15...George Chuvalo
    4) May 21, 1966..............KO 6.........Henry Cooper
    5) August 6, 1966............KO 3.........Brian London
    6) September 10, 1966.....KO 12........Karl Mildenberger
    7) November 14, 1966......KO 3..........Cleveland Williams
    8} February 6, 1967.........W DEC 15...Ernie Terrell
    9) March 22, 1967...........KO 7..........Zora Folley

    Of the 74 Rounds that Muhammad Ali competed in,,,how many rounds did he lose..??
     
  15. Nightcrawler

    Nightcrawler Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2011
    Messages:
    4,432
    Likes Received:
    33
    i didn't even have to look to see who bumped this. and the answer is still no