Send in your light heavyweight to give prime Ali a good scrap

What light heavyweight would you say can give prime Ali (64-67) a good scrap. I'm going to say Roy Jones Jr. Roy would rival Ali in athleticism and speed. Don't get me wrong, I favor Ali, but Roy could test him.

What other LHW do you have in mind?

 

That's a really tough ask. Billy Conn is not going to outbox Ali and, obviously, Bob Foster is a very bad option. A 35 year old Archie Moore may have been able to outsmart Ali or, perhaps, catch him with a good shot. If not Jones, I will go with Moore.

 

Qawi, Rosenbloom, Conn, Charles

 

Ezzard Charles is my go to for these questions because of how good he was and the success he did have at heavyweight. I'd still pick Ali to win but I could see Charles on a good day giving Ali trouble.

Roy Jones if he can take Ali's punch (young Jones that is) could perform very well as he's going to be faster than Ali

I wouldn't favor either over Ali obviously

 

The Moore of 49-51 no doubt would have done better, but I still favor prime Ali to stop even that version of Moore. Billy Conn could probably hope to out point Ali, but I doubt that as well.

 

Agreed. There isn't really a good choice. I was just trying to find someone that had a skill set which gives them a chance to pull off a surprise victory

 

No Spinks yet? He was lengthy and awkward with plenty of Power to give Ali trouble, hell Norton did with less , lol
And he did beat an old Holmes

Moore and Jones not seeing it

 

Michael Spinks could pose a problem. But you think he was a harder HW puncher than Norton?

 

Michael Spinks with his mobility,......it would be a boring fight however. Two movers dont make for an exciting fight.

 

Yes. Michael Spinks!. Now he could have given Ali an akward fight.

 

Spinks would be fruit for Ali. He had to wait out an aged slowed Holmes in the second fight and was stunned virtually every time Holmes, an average hitter, caught him half solid. Spinks power at Heavyweight wouldn't worry Ali in the slightest, he hit Holmes countless times with flush hooks and rights and never once fazed him so he's hardly going to faze Ali. Ali would also have the speed advantage. He'd catch Spinks with sizzling right crosses when he got serious and unlike a slowed Holmes, he'd be able to follow up and finish him. It's over in 7 or 8 at best IMO.

Ali had the speed and dimensions to catch Jones and again, Jones power isn't a danger to Ali. Ali would find him when he'd had enough of hamming it up and take him out.

Ali and Tyson are terrible match ups for light heavyweights. Charles would probably go a little better than others if i was to pick but he ain't going close to winning. Too much speed.

 

Charles
Conn
Spinks
Qawi

 

I can't fully disagree, but I think RJJ would have the speed advantage here

 

Conn and Rosenbloom get dismantled by Ali.

 

Yes, Roy is a good shout. So is Spinks.