The Old Axiom

Mike Tyson, Joe Louis, Lenox Lewis

 

Frazier. I feel the FOTC Frazier would have beaten any Ali, especially considering Ali didn't quite have the guts he had later in his career (Wanting to quit against Liston compared to the unfathomable courage he would later show) which wouldn't help him any in a 15 war struggle against the ultimate will tester in Frazier.

 

We will surely be in the minority, but I completely agree!

 

I would pick Joe Frazier!

I would give a prime version of: Louis, Holmes, Marciano a fairly good chance.

I would give a prime version of: Norton, Liston, Lewis an outside shot

I would give a prime version of: Tyson & Dempsey a punchers chance

 

I would give a prime cruiserweight/new to the heavyweight division Holyfield a shot.

 

lennox lewis has a chance and maybe joe louis.thats all

 

Frazier maybe, Tyson maybe and I'd give Lewis an outside chance also.

Other person I'd give a chance, to which people may laugh at me for... Roy Jones Junior based on his 'prime' hand and foot speed. I dont doubt for a second that one flush punch maybe all it takes for Ali to level him, but then I also think he's capable of doing a Mayweather and pot shotting his way to a points win

 

Ali born into another fighters time: Sullivan 2-3 odds; Corbett 2-3; Jeffries even; Johnson even; Dempsey 2-3; Tunney 1-2; Louis 2-3; Walcott 1-2; Marciano 2-3; Frazier 2-3; Holmes 3-4; Tyson 1-2; Holyfield 1-2; Bowe 2-5; Lewis 1-2.

Ali time machined into another fighters time: Jeffries 1-2; Johnson 1-2; Dempsey 1-3; Tunney 1-3; Louis 1-2; Walcott 1-2; Marciano 3-5; Frazier 2-3; Holmes 3-4; Tyson 3-5; Holyfield 3-5; Bowe 1-2; Lewis 3-5

Other fighters Time Machined into Ali's time: Jeffries 1-4; Johnson 1-3; Tyson 1-2; Holyfield 1-2; Bowe 2-5; Lewis 1-2; Dempsey, Tunney, Louis, Walcott, Marciano, Frazier, Holmes are the same as for Ali time machined into another fighters time.

 

Just to clarify,no non heavyweight is EVER beating Ali. (incuding marciano,dempsey et al.) Ali beats any heavy over a three fight series....
The thought of roy jones being mentioned in this thread is DESPICABLE.....

 

sorry, bit new to the classic forum having had enough of the idiots in the general one. I'm a huge RJJ fan, I just feel he'd have a chance based on his outrageous speed and reflexes... if that makes me crazy sobeit! lol:

:good

 

Excellent picks.

 

The 70's Ali lost to Frazier, & Norton and had close calls with Young & Shavers.

The 60's Clay / Ali best opponent was a stale Liston, maybe one that took a dive Liston, and Floyd Patterson who at least tried. All the other opponents just weren't in Ali's league, whether because of talent or age.

So, anybody who is better than the above has a shot.

 

Anybody, including Ali, could be beaten on a given night.

That's one reason I accord Marciano's zero such high esteem.

Rahman beat a prime Lewis.
Schmeling beat a prime Louis.
Douglas beat a prime Tyson.


That said, It's probaly self-evident that a peak Lewis would be favoured over a peak Rahman. The 1-1 record of their encounters, doesn't tell the whole story.

Let's say they fought 10 times, 6 weeks apart, IMO, Lewis would probably win 8 or 9 of the fights. (We know he didn't win 100 %).

So I would say, all things being equal, with both men at prime, and both well prepared, Lewis would probably beat Rahman.



And, to answer the thread question, using the same principles, Ali would probably beat anyone who ever boxed.