[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrWlHDYDkjg[/YT] "I have never known of any athlete who could remain inactive for 3 years or more and then perform at a level to fight a top contender" (Cus D'Amato) Shows clips of Ali's first boxing exhibition whilst in exile - September 1970 - first fight in a boxing ring in 3 1/2 years.
What Ali did in his second career is amazing, no doubt. He came in in bad shape too many times though, and was often too relaxed and confident as well. Man, he fought guys like Ellis, Mathis, Patterson, Quarry and Lyle like they were sparring partners, and while it is impressive that he got away with it, it still feel like a waste. Probably just as well that Norton made him pay for such overconfidence. His perfomances against Frazier and Foreman is just top notch in any case. I also like the second fight against Norton, as well as his fight with Ellis and his second fight with Quarry. He was very relaxed in those two, but still efficient. Actually he managed to make many fights entertaining in its own way. The fights against Bob Foster and Al "Blue" Lewis spring to mind.
Saw Mike Tyson, Muhummad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard on one of the talk shows years ago(maybe Leno it was, who asked Muhummad how he would have faired against Tyson. Ali was still responsive at the time, but starting to slow down a little, and he said, "If he'd have hit me, he'd have killed me."