How is it that ali "lost his legs" and declined during the layoff?

He barely trained at all during his exile, Angelo Dundee mentioned that. He said the difference between Ali and Leonard in their time out is that Leonard kept in shape whilst Ali just got fat.

 

He was out of the ring for 3 and a half years.

 

No, he did basically no training I think. He had a sparring session not long before he started training for Quarry, to see if he had anything left, and an exhibition some time after that. And there's a story about him coming down to the gym some time during the exile and sparring with Norton. But no regular training.

Leonard trained two times a week and still lost a lot of his legs. You need proper pro training to sustain your level I guess. Of course Leonard's lifestyle with coke and drinking can't have helped either.

But I can't see any top athlete sitting on his ass for 3,5 years and being the same afterwards, even if they live a relative clean life. A fighter who trains and lives well but doesn't have any fights might actually be better off once he has had enough fights to get the rust off, though, since he will have less wear and tear.

 

You don't think being out of the ring for 3.5 years explains why he last his stamina and footwork? What would you put it down to then? Joe Louis did hundreds of exhibitions during his army service do you think that takes the place of actual combat?

 

Tyson wasn't able to do any proper boxing training for 3 years. That can't be good for timing and technique, but he, like Ali, seemed to decline even more in terms of stamina. That's what did him in against Holy. They fought the first five on even terms, but after that Mike started to fade.

 

It's because he was so phenomenal at a young age. I don't think the lay-off was a real factor at all. Obviously you can argue it made a difference on his first few fights back, but not after that.

Ali was a freak. His agility was freakish for a heavyweight and it was only a matter of time before his matured body settled down a bit. What he was doing at 24/25 years old wouldn't have lasted much longer, it was too far off the norm. And even a small decline is noticeable to the outside observer.

 

I think Holyfield just battered the crap out of him.

 

Speed and agility were Ali's main strengths and they're usually the things that go first, great fighters adapt.

 

You seem to be the only one who was unaware he was not training.Maybe you could have saved yourself,[ and us ,]the trouble by doing some research of your own? I mean, quite frankly is there any boxer, professional athlete , anywhere in the world who has had more documented information written about him?

 

He completely let himself go during the lay-off and was never able to reach the same condition.

Reference:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/07/d7/5e/07d75e4283d6ed33a2f9d10bdaa813ac.jpg

 

I would think that the difference was the mountain of cocaine that Leonard consumed.

 

Tyson's style required more stamina than Ali's.