Jimmy Young vs Muhammad Ali Prime for Prime

Hit the nail on the head there.

 

So because Young did as little as he could (your words) its Ali's fault because he didnt do more?? I dont get the rational of that argument. Dont get me wrong, it was a close enough fight, but nothing that merits some of the replies here. That Ali was barely 50% of his mid/late 60s prime and a different animal entirely

 

Ali was as horrible as he was against Young because he was in horrendous shape and aging.

To have an idea of what a prime for prime match might have looked like, review the first five rounds of Ali-Mac Foster. Mac took on his preferred defensive counter punching role as Muhammad carried the fight to him on the ropes, trying to make good on his prediction of a fifth round knockout. This was Ali's first match after turning 30. While not among his better performances, neither was it a particularly difficult bout for him. He looked perfectly comfortable making the fight in a rare aggressor role. Mac was about the same size as Young, and a much harder puncher.

 

What I love is this claims about Ali really never having proved himself against a certain type of fighters. How many proved himself againsy such differing types as he did? Thing is, Young never really proved to be a stylistical conondrum for Ali. No more than Shabers did. The simple fact is that Ali never recorded a comfortable win over a solid/top contender again after Manilla.

 

I didn't say it was Ali's fault, its more Jimmy's mindset. He's very economical with his punch output. I think he felt he wasn't getting hit with anything, so he just had to land a few more than he was hit with, I don't know for sure, just my thoughts. But when he was in with a more busy fighter, like Norten, Lyle, Cooney, etc., he stepped up his punch output. Ali was never in with anybody as cagey as Young, I see him having the same effect on a young Ali, as an old one.

 

Yea, I think fatboy, I mean Ali, was pretty ****ed up after Young got done with him. I think he had a broken eardrum and cheekbone, or something along those lines. In fact, Ali said Young reminded him of a young Ali!

 

No way. First of all, you have to remember that Foreman and lyle were stationary opponents who were there to be hit. Foreman was decked and Lyle was stunned because they basically walked into young's right, thus magnifying the punches effect.

This would not happen against a prime Ali. Heck, Young couldn't even do it to an older one. Ali would not even be there for young to hit because he'd be in and out, side to side all night long. Even if he decided to stand flat-footed Young could never hurt Ali because Ali was a master of slipping punches and judging distance. In addition to all of this, Ali was just too fast and could take a great punch. Not much of a contest.

 

And if he couldn't do that when he was in his prime, to a near shot Ali, what makes you think he would have a chance to do it against a much faster and better Ali of 67 ?

 

So Young would KO a 67' Ali? Am I hearing you correctly here?

 

Spot the difference:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZPHDVwTZ3g[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXq3GteQjGM&feature=related[/ame]

 

Just like he looked out for Folley's equally dangerous right and Patterson's more dangerous left hook. Shouldn't be too much of a problem.