How competitive would Golota and Cooney be against ‘67 Ali?

Golota would be very interesting but Cooney is probably more competitive

 

Neither could put that smoke in a bottle. Masterclass in both fights. 67 Ali makes them both look big, slow and uncouth.

 

Cooney would put up the better fight but Muhammad still beats him fairly easily. Ali would watch out for Gerry's left early on and give him a boxing lesson before the fight is inevitably stopped in it's latter phase.

 

Bang on. He'd lay Cooney out inside 8. Cooney would struggle to catch him up and lay leather on him and when he becomes tired and loose Ali would jump on him with flashing combinations that Cooney would be too busy trying to sight and defend against to do much of anything in return.

 

Ali is getting a tad bit overrated. If Holmes didn't have an easy time with Cooney, why would Ali ? Ali was vulnerable to the left hook, Cooney had fast hands for a big guy and lesser punchers like Cooper have dropped him.

Ali wins a clear decision or stops Cooney late but Cooney would have his moments.

 

60s Ali is one if the only fighters I'd take to beat prime Holmes, I really rate Holmes. But the Holmes who fought Cooney wouldn't match up to pre ban Ali...in my opinion.

 

Hi Buddy.
I agree with your assertion about Ali v Holmes, the 60s ALI was indeed something special, moreover the 67 fighter was at his pinnacle, and I personally think that version of Ali would beat all and any HWs before and after him, with Louis a close second, for me its always been as such.
Stay safe Philosopher, chat soon buddy.
Mike.

 

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I've just been watching the early Ali fights, he was much better than I remembered, the version 1968-70 that we didnt see might probably put to bed the ATG debate. Speed is the word here, speed of fist, thought, feet and attack. I rate Holmes too but different cheese!

 

People rightly rave about the 67 Ali but the young, brash man that whupped Liston in '64 was also something to behold. People say Sonny was old, past it, whatever but he really wasn't. Watch the fight, he was a dangerous opponent still near the top of his game and a man who had monstered the division for many years.

FOC Ali had lost that split second timing, and yes, fell to a massive left hook...and Cooper was '63! 4 years is a long time in a boxers development and I'd agree this was likely peak heavyweight never mind peak Ali...

 

Golota wasn't fluid and neither was Cooney but Cooney could move more and fight for longer. And plus he didn't have a preference for testicles, so i'd give it to Cooney

 

Well unless Ali has a bad day,then he should stop both before the 15 th.

 

If Cooney can catch Ali with the kind of left hook that cooper did then we could be looking at one helluv shock but I think Ali would be a lot more focused an cautious against Cooney than cooper who was just a brit level cruiserweight who Cooney would have KOed in a round

 

Ali was vulnerable to left hooks more so than Holmes who was more vulnerable to right hands rather than left hooks.

I could see Cooney catching Ali at some point and rocking him or possibly dropping him until he stops Cooney late on.

As for Golota unless you attacked him from the opening bell and got him out early which Ali wouldn't do. Then it's going to be a tough stylistic match up against a 6'4 Super Heavyweight with boxing skills.

Overall obviously Ali is heavily favoured to win both fights but probably not as easy as people claim.

 

Their performances would be somewhere between Williams < Terrell

With Cooney possibly doing a bit better than Golota, especially if Golota low blows Ali will make an absolute fool out of him