Over 40 years of hindsight can makes us all smug. Ali was Muhammad '****ing' Ali going into 1978. Yes a little older, and a little slower, but outside his inner circle no one had any real knowledge of his physical deterioration. Ali's name and rep, meant plenty of serious boxing fans would pick him to upset Holmes some 30 odd months later than SpinksI, that is how influential the name Ali was at the time. Going into the Foreman fight, Morrison was considered powerful, but chinny and there was no real indication he could go 12 let alone 15 rounds... Ali's aura and Morrison's questions over stamina, would give Ali plenty of the early rounds. And perhaps Morrison would never crank up the pace to give himself a chance. And even if he did, and Ali was that far ahead and only had to worry about survival he could fiddle his way through the dangerous moments, as Ali had as much boxing intelligence as most, Tommy, not so much... So with no hindsight going in, I think Ali wins a close decision.
Morrison would be too strong for that version of Ali .running on empty would probably lose on points in a sad affair.Q Tommy being plastered all over the shop sports illustrated the Ring etc as the the new white legend chat shows coke adverts the whole bit. Shortly before being totally destroyed by Larry Holmes in his first defense.
Never thought of it that way, how they'd go mad for the new great white hope done great. The papers screaming out, that Morrison was going to be the new Marciano lol Then all the women he's slept with telling their story to news of the world.. They'd probably make him a 40 to 1 favorite over Larry!
Norton and Young were the top two of 7, Norton and Holmes were the top two of 78, until Spinks beat Ali, I think he took Norton's place. I agree with you on Morrison and Shavers. Morrison may have been a better fighter, but Shavers actually still has a better resume.
Ali couldn't to beat Norton in 77 .. no one knew art better than he did when he publicly begged for the first shot at Spinks in a rematch than Norton getting one as promised .. he knew he would never get by Norton and that he got a gift in 76. The 73 rermatch should have been. draw as well .. Morrison would have been a tougher match up than Shavers .. he was bigger, he was stronger , he was faster , he had better stamina and kept his power later .. neither had a great chin but Ali was close too feather fisted by that stage of his game ... Ali was always more suspects le to a left hook than a straight right ..
Tommy Morrison would have to knock out Ali, because anyone who thinks Tommy Morrison could last 15 rounds and outbox Ali is high. Morrison's mouth was often hanging open and he was sucking air as early as the third round -- against guys who weren't even fighting back. Watch the 15th round of Ali-Spinks 1 again. For as bad as people say Ali looked, count how many punches Ali throws in the 15th alone. Leon took it to him hard in that round. And Ali kept firing right back. Morrison never sees the final bell.