To be fair it wasn't peak Ali and in no way would it be the version put forth in a H2H Greatest thread. The version of Lewis that was stopped by McCall is in the same boat.
The point would be the reverse criticism could be made e.g. Lewis getting dropped hard by McCall etc etc. I think you would agree this wasn't peak Lewis nor the version one would pitch into battle in an all time heavyweight tournament. They all have their micro moments particularly outside their peak and indeed in some case during their peak.
Your "fact"s are in fact fiction. The only infraction was the smelling salts .There were merely a few seconds extra time added
No, all three were infraction. Angelo Dundee personally admitted to splitting the glove to buy time so that is FACTUALLY and infraction. I have seen the footage that goes around here that allegedly shows six extra seconds. That would be a serious infraction. However, such footage means nothing at all in the digital age when such things can be doctored ins seconds. Dundee, Cooper, and the time keeper all say it was more like 40 seconds. but six seconds of extra time would be serious.
Angelo NEVER split the glove He'd noticed a seam was splitting earlier on Ali's glove. When the KD happened he poked his finger in it & then called the ref. He told us this at Canastota. The fight continued using same gloves
This is a fantastic point. In all fairness Ali in his first stint was relatively untested if we’re to see him as some kind of unbeatable H2H monster.
I'd go with Lewis #1, too much size and skill for the smaller heavies like Ali, Fury is probably up there now as well.
Any fighter showboating can be put on their ass, yes even against Henry Cooper who was a seasoned successful professional heavyweight with a very good left hook. Coopers issue never was his punching power, it was his overall skill set. He hit plenty hard enough. No one asked you to "Re-litigate" it all night. But if you took time to write a comment, be prepared for a response. If you don't want a response, don't write a comment. That simple. Obviously your reaching for stuff, throwing it against the wall hoping it sticks. Reasonable responses to your comments you obviously don't want to hear because it doesn't fit with your agenda. So, in retrospect, it's a waste of my time pointing out your fixation with a maybe milli- second lapses in Ali's judgment which he paid for by being put on his ass, that somehow that milli-second in your opinion encompasses the entirety of his 20 year pro career. Good luck with that litigation.......... Your going to need it.
Yet he was knocked out twice in the prime of his career by heavywieights at the most 15lbs heavier than Ali, and not nearly as skilled or physically gifted.
