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

All the names mentioned above could give prime Ali a good scrap for part of the bout, as they did not reach their respective pinnacles by being no marks, however Ali would win, and in my view Ali would prevail before the final bell, if he chose to administer the coup de grâce.

 

Spinks should be being mentioned far more than he is........I've only seen him mentioned once.

The Spinks that beat Qawi and Eddie Mustafa etc.........I'd give him a good chance against Ali. I obviously would favor Ali but that version, if he went up directly from LHW to HW, a good chance to be a spoiler. Ironically, the actual HW version of Spinks (Holmes, Cooney etc) I would give less of a chance.

 

He did, back then he had that bouncy rhythm, then outta nowhere would switch to planting his feet and jabbing, doubled and tripled the jab. He was really on his p's and q's then, a complete fighter

 

What about Moorer and Byrd?

They seem the most obvious choices to me: went up to heavyweight and beat Holyfield and Vitali respectively. 66' Ali struggled with German amateur champ and pro Euro champ Mildenberger; the best southpaw he ever fought, who was LHW-sized in modern terms. And unlike the Conn's and the Charles's, they'd no doubt studied Ali extensively and fought many emulators, so they'd have the advantage there.

 

Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Here's someone who wasn't mentioned. Of course I don't think he would beat Ali.

 

Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, RJJ (maybe), Spinks (maybe). I don't think any of them can win, but I bet Charles and Moore give Ali a good fight.

RJJ and Spinks probably look great, frustrating Ali here and there, until he knocks them out.

 

Beterbiev

 

Not read all posts but has anybody mentioned Harold Johnson? Ali as Clay had trouble with Doug Jones who Johnson beat more easily. But that was a younger boxer who had trouble with a few until he boxed Liston as a MASSIVE underdog.
Johnson was a better boxer than Henry Cooper and not much smaller and could have landed a similar left hook.

 

I think that a few of them could have given him a bit of a puzzle to solve to be honest.

Jimmy Slattery might have been an interesting one.

 

Yes, they are good examples too. Although it must be mentioned Bird didn't beat Vitali, Vitali simply got injured, he was leading on all scorecards.

 

Rosenbloom seemed awkward enough to give Ali trouble, Ali didn't thrive against boxers like Maxie. We have film of Conn so we can judge him better, and I think his speed can trouble Ali

 

I agree Slats had the athleticism to make it interesting

 

I think Michael Spinks and Ezzard Charles could hang in there with Ali. Neither would beat him but I can see them surviving to the late rounds or even the scorecards