If Ali began his career in 1948...

For the reasons you mention, AND for the frequency of fights in the earlier era, he probably doesn't last from 1948-1966.

But in his actual timeline, without US politics and the Vietnam war, I expect he could have reigned from 1964 till 1978, achieving the longest reign and the most defences.

 

Would young Cassius' Islamic conversion take place in this scenario ? If so,I can visualise history pre-empting itself,with draft issues over the Korean war,instead of the Vietnam one.

Ali and Marciano wage a trilogy of classics,with Muhammad winning the second and third ones. He'd also overcome Charles,Walcott and Patterson along the way.

 

Sounds like good fun and I want to play along.

Ali wins LHW Gold in 1948. He starts calling out people right from the start. Louis, Charles, and Walcott.

Eventaully he beats former Champs Louis and Charles. Talks of him fighting Walcott start in 1951 but Marciano gets the shot in 1952.

Marciano wins the title and Ali wants to get in the ring after the fight but nobody lets him in. Marciano feels that Walcott deserves a rematch before Ali gets a shot so Ali (with Brown's help) makes up a little rhyme about Marciano being a ducker... "The Rock is a ducker, if he ever fights me I will destroy the sucker, best believe I'm the baddest mother..." (then he puts both hands over his mouth)!

After Marciano stops Walcott in 1 round Ali sneaks in the ring and gets in Marciano's face. Rocky's brother almost gets in a fight with Ali's brother, it's great! Ali makes a comment about Walcott being 137 years old.

Long story short... Ali gets a shot at Marciano's title. It's a great fight and Ali has to get off the canvas to win the hard fought decision. Ali praises Marciano after the fight and says no hard feelings. Ali's brother Rudy and Rocky's brother Pete shake hands as well.

They fight again and this time Ali sticks and moves a little more. It's not as exciting as the first fight but Ali wins the decision.

Ali goes on to beat Charles again (W15) but has a very tough time with him. He also beats Archie Moore by late round stoppage.

Ali beats Floyd Patterson by stoppage in the 14th round of an exciting fight. He beats Johansson by mid round KO but is knocked down in the fight.

The next big test is Liston.

 

bump

 

I don't think the islamic conversion could have happened in 1948.

The US society was different then and the idea would probably have been a non-starter.

Ali might have (would have !) still clowned, if to a lesser degree, but the conditions for the political nonsense weren't there yet.

Rather, he might have sounded a bit like Jack Johnson.:yep

 

People forget the U.S. Draft was in place back then.

Ali gets drafted and goes to Korea.....shoots a few g00ks at Pork Chop Hill, and comes back a hero like baseball's Ted Williams did.....but loses 2 years out of his career.

Tough to join Muslims then....Catch 22.