If Ali had faced all the same oppenent s as The Real Deal, starting from his day s as Cruiser (is that viable)? And then on to Buster. Question is, how long does he go unbeaten? We assume Ali ages the same as he goes along, so take that in to consideration.
I think Ali goes undefeated, until he starts to age and lay on the ropes too much. I think he goes 2-1 against Bowe. Doesn't lose to Moorer. He probably has enough in the tank in his mid 30s to beat post prison Tyson. But I can't see a 36-37 year old Ali beating Lennox Lewis. That's the first sure loss. After that, probably lots of really ugly performances and questionable decisions.
Good one. Bowe could be his Norton moment? Then perhaps beating him in the rematch. No, I can't see him losing to MM either. So he'd still be champ when he faced Tyson. That would be a win for Ali, then a rematch win, hopefully no ear biting! By the time he faced Lewis, I'm with you, he'd lose to Lennox. Can't see Ali even beating Ruiz by that stage. Then again he's been spared a lot of crushing rounds against Frazier, Foreman, Shavers, so maybe he gets at least a win there.
If we go year for year (in this scenario there is no 3 year exile, but we'll instead consider the Ali of that post-exile) Ali (Liston) dazzles and ultimately beats the living hell out of Tyson in 1990 and wins the title, stopping him in 7. Ali (Liston II) Rematches Tyson and stops him in 5. Ali (post Liston, pre-exile) Hands Ruddock his ass, stoppage in 4. Stops Dokes in 3. Wins a disputed SD decision against Bowe, smacks the bejesus out of Morrison, slick UD over Mercer. Ali (post exile from FOTC to Zaire) Loses the title in a close (and not unanimously popular) SD decision to Holy, takes a clearer UD over rematched Bowe, takes back the title via UD over pre-Steward Lewis. TKO over Rahman, wildly UD over Tua, overwhelming UD over an aging Witherspoon, Rematches (Moorer 1-era) Holyfield and TKOs him in round 8. Takes a UD from old man Holmes but doesn't look amazing doing it. Ali (post Thrilla/1975) Takes a very solid UD over old George, at times flashing back to the early Ali, stops Moorer in 9, takes a very disputed MD over Holy in the rubber match, loses the title by clear UD to Steward-era Lewis. Comes back and wins the title for the third time by a clumsy and snooze-inducing jab-and-hold fest SD against alphabet-boy Shannon Briggs. Retires. Ali (Holmes era) Comes back to fight Wlad and is unanimously decisioned in every sense, not just losing but leaving many people feeling the fight should have been stopped in the late rounds. Takes vicious punishment. Tries a mini-comeback and loses a UD to a young Tyson Fury, neither man looking terrific.
Ali would have a field day while his youth lasted. At the end of his career when he starts getting brain damage- His fight against Lennox, Toney, Ruiz ect would be not humiliating but ugly to watch. Lots of clinching..
Would have hated to see an old Ali against Lennox or Ruiz. He'd have being messed around by Ruiz and he'd take powerful shots from Lewis.
Wait, forget fighting a young Fury, does a 46 year old Ali sign a lucrative 1 fight deal with Hearn to school Charles Martin for the belt???? Let's go champ!
