To preface I regard Ali as one of the greatest ever, arguably the greatest. 1966 Ali vs 2018 Usyk Ali: 24 years old, started boxing age 12, 88 confirmed amateur bouts with a record of 80-8 (3 rounders, 247 rounds max), 25 pro (144 rounds contested), stopped 9 pro opponents who were 197+ lbs Usyk: 31 years old, started boxing age 15, 350 amateur bouts with a record of 335-15 (3-4 rounders, 1076-1332 rounds max), 6 WSB (25 rounds contested), 14 pro (105 rounds contested), stopped 11 WSB/pro opponents who were 197+ lbs (pre-rehydration) Ali had been knocked down from head shots twice in the previous 15 fights/4.5 years (Sonny Banks, Henry Cooper), was almost exclusively a head hunter, hadn’t fought a southpaw in 6 years, had lost to at least two southpaws in the amateurs (Kent Green by KO, Amos Johnson by SD) and 2013 Usyk was heavier than 28/33 of Ali’s pre-Mathis opponents, as well as 9 lbs heavier than 1966 Ali, who had gone the distance with 5 of his 25 pro opponents (17-9-1 186 lbs Hunsaker, 15-11-1 225 lbs Sabedong, 18-7 189 lbs Johnson, 23-3-1 188 lbs Jones, 34-11-2 216 lbs Chuvalo), whereas Usyk hasn’t been stopped or dropped with a headshot in a combined total of 376 fights, amateur and pro. 1966 Ali had a highly competitive fight with 49-2-3 European champion southpaw Mildenberger over 11.5 rounds, who was billed as being 6’1.5 with a 73 inch reach and 195 lbs (4-3-1 in non-KD rounds according to two of the three official judges, 154-144 punches landed out of 612-538 thrown according to Compubox; by contrast Usyk outlanded the 6’2, 79.5 inch reach, 198 lbs Olympian Hunter 321-190, throwing 905-794 over 12 rounds). Mildenberger had been KO’d twice (once in the 1st round by 30-12-2, 201 lbs Dick Richardson, who had 2 stoppage wins in his previous 9 fights and 0 in his only 2 fights after) and dropped numerous times in those 54 pro fights, registered a 31% KO ratio with 0 KO’s in his previous 5 fights and had a 52-12 amateur record, with winning the German LHW championship being his best amateur accomplishment. Usyk has studied Ali extensively, beaten many opponents influenced by him and has modern advantages in terms of training and "nutrition", as well as a tougher upbringing being from a working-class family in post-Soviet Ukraine, with a modern Eastern European style that Ali never experienced (the old Soviet school was limited to the amateurs in those days). This content is protected This content is protected
Ali wins a hard fought decision, but he will struggle immensely. Someone as big and crafty as Usyk will always give Ali problems.
All things being equal, I give Usyk the edge. Usyk would bring the pride of a nation behind him, something Ali obviously did not have. All of Usyks ancestors, all of his neighbors and friends and family killed in the war, all of his homeboys still out there on the front lines...Usyk never turned his back on them. He would bring that pride and fire with him in to the ring, and I don't think Ali knows what that's like. He could never know in fact. How could he? For all his skill and flash, and trash talk, that's just another level that he could never understand or appreciate, and I think it would be the difference to bring Usyk through the fire
Give Ali 6 months of modern training, nutrition, knowledge, etc and my vote's for Ali. Note: I think Usyk's a great man but I'm sure I'm biased, I wanted to be Ali when I was a youngen, he was the greatest to me.
Ali is smaller, doesn't hit as hard, physically weaker, lacks Usyk's boxing brain & reflexes, was bigger than most of his opponents, fought dirty with all the holding, did not have Usyk's warrior heart & courage (Usyk made every defense away from home), was slower than Oleksandr both of hand and foot, had many questionable wins and should have at least 4 more losses on his record, never fought someone with Usyk's ability, was fake (Hunter S Thompson once said Ali was one of the three meanest people he'd ever seen), would not be able to get in Usyk's head as Oleksandr is cool as the other side of the pillow, had no body attack............ You know, on second thought, scratch that - Ali wins by UD or late TKO.
Usyk at 220 pounds, moves better than ALI at 204 pounds. Usyks defence, angles and work rate are better. I never seen HW at 220 pounds to move nonstop for 12 rounds like Usyk did against AJ.
bro something about russian/ukranian boxers is that they just dont get tired, there hands might not as be as sharp and acurate as the first rounds but their feets never stop working
Hm, hard to decide, both fighters are fast, technical, equal in size even and a bit overrated. But considering the quality of opponents Ali won against, I'm maybe 60:40 for him.
Ali W via MD. He's faster, hits harder, has better reflexes & will not get tired (like AJ did). Usyk is still a tricky customer and has much more success than any of Ali's 60s opponents. However Ali's speed, volume and lateral movement will win him the match.
Usyk's footwork and boxing brain are something that would give Ali fits. Then again Ali's speed and reflexes are on another level to the guys Usyk has fought. I'm not actually sure here.
Ali has a gas tank proven to go 15 rounds, whether Usyk has it is just an assumption. But even if he has it, then both have it.
