Lets say that Ali and Frazier rematched before Foreman got a title shot and Foreman got his title shot vs Ali rather than Frazier. More likely than not, he loses and never becomes champion. Then on the comeback trail he wars with Lyle, destroys Norton (as did Shavers) beats a Fraizer who has one foot out the door and loses to Jimmy Young and retires to go into the ministry. Much of his comeback success, including his line of grills, was built off of his championship success in the 70s as he got fights with Holyfield and Moorer because of his name for the most part. But if he had fought Ali instead of Joe Frazier for the title, how would history remember him? Keep in mind, its the same George Foreman, except the order of events have been changed. Would he be seen like Shavers, a hard puncher but technically limited fighter at the top level or what? Also what happens to heavyweight history if Ali lost to Jones and Cooper in 1963? Does Ali still go on to achieve what he did or would he have become a forgotten 1960s contender?
I dunno. Maybe Ali doesn't do the 'rope-a-dope' versus Foreman if Ali is the champion rather than the challenger and hasn't had the benefit of watching Foreman destroy Frazier and Norton. Ali might think to himself "he's only been beating bums, and look at his style, he looks like a robot, he looks like a mummy, this guy aint got a chance" in which case Foreman then stands a better chance of winning. So let's just suppose Foreman wins, and then they have a rematch, you'd have to then think in the rematch Ali performs the rope-a-dope, wins the rematch, things then revert to almost how they should be but it possibly sets up a trilogy in this case, and Foreman maybe doesn't quit boxing early. But the one thing about the rope-a-dope, is it only works once, unless your opponent is a dope. So Ali needs to find another way. But if anyone can Ali can.
Although, I don't think the rope a dope was pre planned as much as it was improvised on the spot If thats true then Ali may have done it anyway
I always assumed it was pre-planned, or I was led to believe that from something I heard or read over the years that I now can't remember, but maybe you're right.
In one of the late 60's "Ali Books", Ali talks about working on the nightmare of Liston having him pinned on the ropes for a long 15 round fight...and he had worked on such a scenario back in the 1963-65 era. Chuvalo, though not as strong as Foreman, had Ali bissing blood for a few days after one of their fights.
Ali planned to move and box that night but always practiced in training to work off the ropes. Once Ali found in round one the the ring canvas was very padded making movement difficult and tiring and that Foreman was driving him to the ropes continually he decided to let Foreman do so.
Probably gets remembered as a B level fighter. His decimation of Frazier is what made him seen as a scary fighter.
