Tommy Morrison who got the decision over Foreman? .. Put him in place of Leon Spinks in the first fight with Ali. What happens? Fading Ali but it's a 15 round, can Tommy fight that long?
Morrison and Spinks were pretty different fighters. Leon was a pure swarmer that outworked an aging Ali for a UD. Morrison was a slugger and the type of guy that Ali usually performed pretty well against even at an advanced age. I could see an old Ali winning a UD or possibly a late stoppage over Morrison. Morrison had a deadly left hook but if Ali could handle Foreman and Shavers power, I think he would be able to handle Morrisons.
Muhammad Ali at this point was so far away from the Muhammad Ali who tortured 6"6, 212 lb Ernie Terrell on Feb 6 1967 for 15 rounds. Ali was never the same in this era, since the Thrilla in Manila fight against Joe Frazier. It makes me wonder how he survived even power punching Earnie Shavers on Sept 29 1977, in Madison Square Garden, even almost decking Shavers in round 15. Tommy Morrison of screen fame, was younger a hard hitter, and as determined as he was in the fictional Rocky movie series. I think that Muhammad Ali is the greatest, but I have to be realistic, Morrison by a late round stoppage, the referee would have to end it, because Ali was not a quitter like some fighters.
A person who says that 78 Ali would beat by late stoppage a prime Morrison(who was miles more dangerous than Leon) he is a ****ing troll
I would have to say Morrison was stronger and was most dangerous early on, so I would credit him with stopping Ali from 5 to 8, like Richard said, the ref would have to save Ali from his own courage. Although Morrison would stop Ali, and Spinks didn't, I'm not saying Morrison was in any way better than Leon. In reality, if they fought, Leon would beat the **** out of Morrison and knock him out. Leon was vulnerable, but Morrison was just too vulnerable, and his best wins are less impressive than Leon's best.
What? Hahahah leon spinks beating Morrison lmao Tommy would beat his crap, he could not take the shots from a midget like qawi lol Morrison would land the first clean hook and he is out
I think in 1978 Muhammad Ali would have been vulnerable to a lot of fighters. Especially ones with dangerous left hooks which was his weakness at all stages of his career. If the aging Muhammad can stay alive until the late rounds he might lure Morrison into deep water and find a way to win, but again this would be dangerous.
Spinks was long shot when Qawi beat him. Who'd Morrison ever beat? Old, slow Foreman, who clearly wasn't trying that hard. Old Carl the Truth Williams, who still dropped him twice. He stopped ancient Tillis and ancient Thomas. So what? He stopped Joe Hipp? Who's that? He stopped Razor Ruddock. An overrated bum. I give Morrison some credit. His win over Foreman was an impressive display of discipline, and he got up vs. Williams and Ruddock, and fought Hipp w/ a broken jaw, but Morrison just never beat a credible fighter who wasn't already pretty old. Leon was not the toughest, but he proved he could survive. Morrison rarely could. Leon would beat the absolute crap out of Morrison, probably the way Mercer did, coming from behind after a 3-round beating.
Morrison easily outpoints Ali in a dull affair. Ali mostly flicks jabs, ties up, covers up, nd showboats to entertain the crowd. His work rate is abysmall and only throws maybe 10-15 punches per round while connecting with maybe 4-6 shots with little zip on them. Morrison does manage to land his infamous hook and rock Ali badly, who then becomes even more cautious and inactive, tying Morrison up frequently. The crowd is booing more than they ever have at an Ali fight, who pretends to cry in the corner and hide how damaged he is. By the late rounds Ali has bruises on his arms and a swollen cheek from the thunderous hooks of Morrison. He explodes for like half a minute's worth of dancing and flurries to "steal" a couple of rounds but then goes back into his shell. Morrison's corner instructs him to double on punches and really pressure Ali to the corner. He'll look bad going the distance with such an old lethargic fighter, and Morrison is running out of steam having never gone the 15 round distance. In the 12th and 13th, a desperate Ali uses the rope a dope to trick the younger inexperienced fighter into punching himself out. It only works for about a minute, then Morrison simply throws pitter patter punches and wins the rounds on aggression when his corner yells at him. Morrison does manage to score a knock down in the 14th, and Ali is up at the count of 6 but looks terrible. He actually gets a point deducted for excessive holding. In the final round, Ali gives it everything he has throwing fast flurries, but they have no sting on them and are mostly blocked by Morrison whose corner tells him not to risk opening up and just coast to the final bell. Morrison wins a lopsided unanimousl decision but is out of breath and covered in sweat after being clinched 60x and swinging at an inactive lazy opponent who wouldnt engage and goofed off 50% of the fight.
I can't agree. Ali looked awful, but Morrison had crap for stamina, and if Ali could make it past the eighth, he could salvage the win and maybe even stop Morrison.