Joe Louis's,Muhammad Ali's and Mike Tyson's post lay off careers

Ali, as he was still relatively young and recognized that he could no longer rely on his legs like he used to, and he was also able to take a punch amazingly well as we found out.

Louis was older than the other two by the time he came back from the army, but his conservative style served him well as long as he was still able to find the openings to punch.

Tyson was basically an Earnie Shavers with faster hands by the time he came back. He still possessed some of the old physicality, but had abandoned much of the skill he had been taught. He was mostly hunting for the one punch by then.

 

I would have to say Ali, if only because he put in his best body of work then.

Handsomb is as handsomb does.

 

Good description, I would also add that post-prison Tyson had a lot less stamina than Prime Shavers, but better durability & chin.

 

I think it's highly debatable (to different degrees in each of their three cases) that their layoff periods constitute what would have been the best years of their careers.

What isn't debatable is that all three stayed on far too long and could (& should) have avoided some nasty humiliation in their latest losses.

 

Ali

 

Oh yeah, to actually answer the topical question - Ali. No-brainer.