If you have to choose a %, how much "prime" these fighters were when they fought each other

I think Ali at his best in 70s was from Quarry 2 to Foreman (both fights included, obviously). It was his peak.

He looked rusty in Quarry 1 and Bonavena fights, and probably took the Frazier fight too early.

I'd say Ali was like 85-90% from Quarry 2 to Foreman, means he was as good as ever besides speed and reflexes (which still were there, as he was quicker than all his opponents, but not as lightning fast as in 60s).

In the Frazier 3 I think he was like 75% of his best.

And declined quickly after that.

 

70%

 

I'd say after the Frazier trilogy is when his prime ended. From age 34 to 35 and 35 to 36 he was noticeably declining. Ali wasn't dominant in the early 70s because he wasn't much better than his opponents anymore. Even in 1976 when his level of competition went down a bit he looked much better.

But while Ali was in his prime that increase in competition shortened it just as much aging. If we look at his non Foreman peers those wars shortened everyones careers and Ali had more of them than anyone. Ali should have been slowing down by the late 70s but he declined really fast because he was getting beat up.

Its hard to use age to gague Ali v Foreman by age because Foreman had such an off night. If Ali had lost a step by 1974 a younger Ali would have done worse because its hard to imagine him improving on Rumble in the Jungle.

 

I believe the 2nd fight vs Norton was when Ali looked at his sharpest in the 70s he was fast, sharp, footwork for all 12 rounds. That performance alone i would rate Ali at between 85-90 percent at his best.

 

70-85% depending on the fight.

He was still shaking off the rust for Quarry and Oscar.

By FOTC he was operating at about 75% of his peak self. Still had issues with his timing, technique, etc and was still getting by on his athleticism and endurance for some rounds.

He managed to regain about 80-85%% briefly for his stellar performances against Frazier/Norton 2 and Zaire.

Wepner he dropped to about 65%. He was flabby and didn't have much motivation or fire, lacking snap in his punches and lax on defense due to slower reflexes.

He got in great shape and was motivated back to about 70% briefly for the Frazier Manilla fight and that drained him A LOT.

 

For most of his fights circa 1970-75 Muhammad was around 75-80% of his sixties best,imo.
I have him at 85%,though,in the Quarry II,Norton II,Frazier II and Foreman bouts.

 

i was thinking more like 65%.

but the above posts prob have it right.

 

The 60s Ali probably would have finished him only a bit later imo, by the 10th Foreman would have been exhausted and done.

 

Pretty accurate in my opinion.