Post 67' Ali - Just Not My...

I agree with you. He should've quit after Manilla. He was never the same after that. But before that fight he looked quite good in most fights to me, and took on basically what there was to take on.

 

I agree with you too. Too big IMO.

 

I appreciate '70's Ali, only I wish I wasn't seeing all the b.s. tugging on the back of his opponents head.

 

I agree with you Russell, pre exile Ali in my mind was the best heavyweight who ever lived. Ali after the layoff still was one of the best ever, and still turned in some great efforts though. But alot of things did occur during his second act that were not good. his training habits at times were poor, and he could be lazy in the gym. Once he discovered he could take a shot, he decided it was easier to do that than dance for 15 rounds like he did when he was young, and this contributed to the problems he has today. He also developed a level of celebrity like Michael Jordan did in which he could get away with things other fighters couldn't, and got preferential treatment alot. He sucked against Young and Norton III and got decisions he didn't deserve, and he was horrible against Spinks also. I prefer the ALi of 1966 and 1967anyday.

 

He was still a top shelf fighter, but seeing the same Ali that beat Liston fight the other HW's would've been a site to see.

I agree that his arrogance and age led his career down a shaky path.

 

Ali was better in the 60s, thats undisputable for me anyway but he was still a great fighter all the way up until the 3rd Frazier fight in 1975.

He had 1 or 2`not like himself`nights but what boxer in history didnt + it was great to see his boxing brain adapting in the 70s when the footspeed that he relied so much on in the 60s had all but gone.

The Ali of the 70s on his best nights would give any HWT in history hell but the Ali of 64-67 was the best HWT the world has seen IMO.

 

His competition was harder in the seventies. Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Lyle, Shavers, Quarry, Bonavena, and Young for example. Ali beat them all in the 70's. I think 70's Ali is under-rated.

 

I agree with the thread. Although he did get to show his mighty heart and great chin during the 1970s, which has enhanced his standing in all-time rankings, but his inability to block punches was always going to be his downfall and let to his condition today. The defences Ali made during his second reign are amongst the most boring fights in boxing history. The Frazier and Shavers fights were very good, the rest made Sven Ottke look exciting.

 

You're quite right. Regardless, Ali got to olympian heights in boxing with the poorest of fundamentals. He relied on his natural ability, which of course started to defy him as he got older...and still beat the best heavyweights of his era.

 

I agree that the post exile Ali was nothing great to watch for the most part but there are a few points to make about it ...

post Frazier 1 he began to rebuild himself by fighting a lot and he was a hell of a fighter. Still he had to nurture his skills and use them selectively ...in addition to the loss of most of his leg speed he had serious hand trouble ...

What is amazing is that the weakened, post prime Ali defeated perhaps the greatest level of competition any heavyweight champion ever did ...

 

pre exile ali for me was the greatest heavy that ever lived i don't think anyone could have touched him,but for me he really PROVED his greatness in the seventies.pre exile he had all the physical attributes,the speed the reflexes etc.however into the seventies all those advantages were in decline and he had to rely on savvy,heart,toughness and an indomitable spirit against for me a much tougher breed of challengers.true there were a few tomato cans in there,but if ever a fighter deserved an easy night now and then it was ali.he ducked no one.

 

Agreed. Post 1975, Ali was very beatable. In fact I think a 1 or 2 guys today at heavy could have beaten Ali post 1975.

Two things Ali improved upon in his second career. His clinching, and his counter punching.