Fighters who could beat Ali

Which Ali? Prime Ali or 'Three years off' Ali?

 

Those with the best chance who never actually faced him would include
Lewis
Tyson
Holyfield


Holmes
Frazier
Dempsey
Louis
Would always be tough fights,imo

 

My pick among those would be Holmes, his style ,jab and boxing ability gives Ali fits. I could see and 8-7 fight.

 

I would say Holyfield, Frazier, Ken Norton. Their styles would've got the job done.
Not sure on Lewis and Tyson

 

Yeah,...and then you woke up!!!

 

Said "Rocky"Jim. ... Lol

 

Greater than 50% chance vs Ali. Taking each fighter at their best.

Fury
Lennox
Vitali
Bowe
Wlad
Holmes
Tyson
Holyfield
Joshua

I also kind of like Foreman but can't fully commit to that view on account of Ali's stunning victory.

 

Before his suspension I am convinced that Ali would have beaten any Heavyweight.

 

I do not think that prime Muhammad Ali, 1964-1967 would have ever lost to the fighters who handed him defeats when he came back after his enforced idleness. Remember there was no Rope A Dope in his arsenal in those years, he had footwork, reflexes, speed, and stamina, Yank Durham would not have thrown Joe Frazier in the ring with him in 1967, he said that Joe was not even ready for him. I do not even think that Eddie Futch would have allowed Ken Norton in the ring with him if Norton was around back then. Those two greats did score victories over Ali, fair and square, but he was not in his prime in all fairness. Ali would have not been scared of the present day tall fighters, he did not fear Ernie Terrell, who stood 6"6, and many in the boxing circle did favor Big Ernie to win, but on Feb 6 1967,Terrell did look rather clumsy, got easily outpointed in 15 rounds. Sure Henry Cooper floored the future champ on June 18 1963, but Ali got up and won by TKO 5. But on May 21 1966, in a title defense, Ali stopped Henry Cooper by TKO 6, giving him 14 stitches. He never had a rematch with Doug Jones, who instead opted to challenge WBA Heavyweight Champion Ernie Terrell in June 1966, but lost by unanimous decision. But when an individual stands by his beliefs, not to engage in battle in Vietnam, that decision has to be respected, money was not that important to him, his religious beliefs were more important. We will never know who would have beaten him then, I do not know. Size does not matter if you cannot catch someone that fast. Also if someone gets into your head like he used to, it can make you so angry, you are unable to follow your game plan, especially if you have some type of hidden mental issue. The only fight he took a little punishment was in a title defense against was against George Chuvalo on March 29 1966, but Ali won by unanimous decision in Toronto, Canada. And Karl Mildenberger gave him some difficulty on Sept 10 1966, in Frankfurt, Germany, because of his southpaw stance, but Ali decked him three times during the fight, and stopped him in round 12. Back then I have always wanted Ali to fight Eddie Machen, they never fought, but I heard Angelo Dundee say that they wanted to give Eduardo Corletti a title shot.

 

Me too, the fighters mentioned had losses, he did not have any losses.

 

In Ali's prime, 64-67, no fighter would ever be able to beat him. Not Frazier, not Lewis, not Tyson, not Holyfield. Some might come close, but they would not be able to beat the GOAT.
Ali (prime) VS Tyson (prime)? Would be the fight of the century. Ali wins, too fast and too smart. Ali's chin can take what Tyson has to give him, seeing as how he took both Frazier AND Foreman's punches without being KO'd (only KD by Frazier)

Lewis would have a physical advantage over Ali, height reach and weight, but Ali would still be able to beat him. He'd be too quick, slip in and out.... watch some of Ali's defense from when he was young. It's unbelievable.

Joe Louis would've been too slow. Marciano would've been too slow and too small.

Holyfield would give a prime Ali a very, very tough fight. Ali outboxes him for the hard fought decision.

Ali beats AJ, Wilder, and Ruiz Jr easily... Tyson Fury would give him some trouble since he is an outboxer with longer arms and taller than Ali. Out of anyone, Tyson Fury has the best bet of beating him I think.

 

Even Ali past his prime, we'll say from 1971-1975, would have still given these guys hell. He beat Frazier 2/3 times during this period, and beat a prime Foreman. He would be able to beat a prime Mike Tyson in this stage, I feel, off of age and experience. Mike would not be able to KO Ali.
Holyfield would probably get to Ali in this period. Lewis has a strong case too.
He still beats AJ, Wilder, and Ruiz Jr though. Tyson Fury could probably get him at this period, however.

ALI is the GOAT

 

Ali vs Fury, good fight, but we are talking prime Ali, 1964-1967, not 1970-1975. In 1970-1975, I think that Ali might have lost to the above mentioned heavyweights, to be honest, his prime gifts were gone. He lost to Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, post prime.

 

I think Jersey Joe Walcott said it best after "officiating" the second Liston fight: Nobody could have beaten [Ali] that night, not me, not Louis, and not Marciano.