A few people on here have mentioned that they think that Ali's best of the 70's was during FOTC 1971. I have commented on other threads that I consider that the years 1972-1974 were the nearest that Muhammad came to his brilliant 1966-67 best. I am thinking in particular of Quarry 2,Norton 2,Frazier 2 and the George Foreman fight. Let's open this one up.
He was excellent in his comeback fight in 1970 against Quarry. And although many said at the time he was slipping against the rugged Bonavena, stopping him was mighty impressive with hindsight. So I would say Ali was at his 70s best, pre Fight of the Century.
let's start by eliminating the Jimmy Young fight, both Leon Spinks fights, the Shavers fight, Wepner, Coopman, Evangelista, Blin, both Bugner fights, the Lyle fight, the Richard Dunn fight, Inoki ! , Buster Mathis fight, the Bonavena fight, Mac Foster fight, the Blue Lewis fight, Norton 3, Chuvalo 2, Norton 1 .........
Yeah That Inoki exhibition ! I was talking about Ali focused and in shape. Against Evangelista he did look terrible. Anyway that fight and a few of those others took place after my window of 1972-1974 :good
norton 2 to foreman was ali's best in 70s. he was too rusty for FOTC even tho he fought very well. you can't get timing relexes conditioning back in 6 months after having 3 1/2 years out of the game. ali was lucky he cut quarry in first fight - he woulda tired badly afer 5 rounds. bonavena he looked bad except for 15th when he got lucky- ellis looked way better than ali.
