Sick (but prime) Ali vs. Jack Sharkey

Jack Sharkey and Ali are both in their primes. Ali has an illness the day of the fight.

What is the least serious illness Ali could contract that would give Jack Sharkey a better than 50-50 chance at victory?



Or to put it another way: How sick would a prime Ali have to be to lose against a prime Jack Sharkey?

 

I'm sorry, I was going to try but this ones too weird to come up with a decent answer.

 

A lot of times, you hear about Fighter X having a cold, or being drunk, or suffering from some other ailment against Fighter B.

I think it's valid to insert similar issues into fantasy bouts. They certainly existed in real life...

 

Sars
or maybe the T virus.

 

You're aiming for Zombie Ali getting DQ'd for trying to eat Sharkey?

Also, relevant:

http://stupiddope.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Muhammad-Ali-Alter-Egos-6.jpg

 

Absolutely, I suspect a Sharkey win via DQ when Ali takes a big bite out of his neck.

But, in all seriousness, a case of the Flu should be sufficient. Ali, dehydrated from the Diarrhea, and his nose clogged up would cause be enough to have Ali fatigued, short of breath and weakened enough for Sharkey to pull out a win. Though that raise another question, Ali would almost certainly attempt a rope a dope style gameplan to conserve energy. So could he get Jack angry enough to throw himself out and score a late KO?

 

Yeah, I also suspect that a flu would be enough. Which really underscores just how little you can afford to do wrong against elite heavyweight opponents.

It's hard to say whether Sharkey would (or could) go for broke against a rope-a-doping Ali. He wasn't temperamentally the sort of fighter who'd bulldoze opponents. He wasn't a puncher, either, and he was inconsistent. My guess would be that he sticks to boxing for the most part, taking the opportunities that Ali offers without going for the kill.

You might see occasional blips of manic aggression courtesy of Sharkey's schizo approach to boxing, though. Especially if Ali goads him or rubs him the wrong way.

 

It would have to be Kryptinite!!

 

I think that when Sharkey was at the top of his game, even Ali would need to be well to beat him.

 

What a strange thread , I'll pass.

 

I love hypothetical fights, but, hypothetical hypothetical fights? Geez...how
'bout a dead Marciano v an Ali with parkinsons?

 

I think Parkinsons Ali could pull it off.


Vs Sharkey, I would say anything that causes a fever.

 

:hey

Mostly because Sharkey -- on skills alone -- is underrated today. Like many champions who fought in less than exciting eras.