"The Wrong Man" at Heavyweight

I believe a prime Lewis (not underprepared as against Rahman) toys with Liston. Imagine Liston against someone much bigger, physicall stronger, more athletic with boxing skills...

 

Ali could never figure out Norton.

Shavers could have had a chance against Lewis if he ever connected.

Louis struggled with Conn's movement, Ali would have been a nightmare for him.

Marciano wouldn't have been able to bulldoze a Langford, or a Holyfield.

Holmes would have jabbed Frazier blind.

Tyson would have been no match for Johnson's defensive nous.

 

See my comments in red. Otherwise, I think that list is quite good.

 

I think that Tyson and actually Dempsey are bad matchups for Wills. Wills didn't have a glass jaw and had a good defense by most accounts but I think he could be swarmed and knocked out. Langford did it a few times and I think someone like Dempsey would of had a field day.

It helps Wills status that he never fought a prime Dempsey imo. Had the fight come off and he was stopped, his stock would absolutely plummet.

 

Tyson, Frazier & Marciano`s kryptonite is Foreman stylewise.

I always felt prime Tyson would give prime Ali his best fight, followed by Marciano & Frazier.

Ali is a bad style match for Louis IMO.

 

Ali was in terrible shape for fight 1 & should have been retired for fight 3... Norton was good & prepared for all 3 fights so best to look at fight 2 since both guys were live & 100%....

Ali swept the 1st 5 rds on his toes using lateral movement & a good jab until he started tiring then the rds got closer, Ali still won on my card but Ken certainly made a go of it from rd 6 onwards, Ali took a big rd 12 to erase doubt.

Id imagine a prime Ali doesnt tire as much & therefore doesnt get hit as much in the 2nd half of a primes fight.... Norton aint kryptonite for a 60s Ali, the 2nd fight hints at this IMO.

 

Excellent analysis! I agree 100%.

 

I guess prime Norton would give hell to Holmes as well.

 

I've always liked the fact that, whoever you are, there is someone with the right style and attributes to really give you a tough time.

Ali's the greatest heavyweight ever IMO but that doesn't change the fact that I think someone such as a prime Holmes is a really rough style match-up for him. Or Norton, for example, even for the younger Ali.

It's not quite paper-scissors-stone simplicity but it is a universal truth, and something a fighter should always bear in mind no matter how good their career may be going.

 

Frazier - Foreman is the ultimate one.

 

I reckon vintage Tyson would've beaten any version of Foreman, but realize I might be in the minority. He certainly brings a fair bit more to the table to give Foreman big trouble, better two fisted power, better defense, faster, better combination puncher. He'd have Foreman in a whole world of trouble and I think would stop him.

 

Yep, agreed. I also always thought Holmes would give Ali everything he could handle and then some, although I omitted him because I don't think he's the 'wrong man' neccessarily for Ali, but simply a darn good fighter who could conceivably beat him.

 

Again I have to agree with you HJ, although I certainly won't be putting money down!