Don`t how he grabbed Haye, he was running like a rabbit most of the fight and throwing punches well out of range, Haye was nowhere near as good as Frazier at getting inside with head movement, Ali would have outboxed Haye easily without clinching.
Wlad never faced pressure like Ali faced in that fight and Ali was flabby in that one, I read he was better trained for the rematch and even though he clinched a lot in thatt one he also threw brilliant hooks that caught Joe on the way in, plus he hurt Joe badly in the second round of that one.
Some of Ali`s opponents in the 60`s were heavier than Floyd and punched harder yet Ali didn`t need to clinch v them.
Frazier`s hooks to body and head were harder to deal with than any offense that Wlad had to deal with.
Ali clinched every bit as much as Wlad and arguably lost 3 times to Ken Norton. He lost to an 8 fight Spinks and lost wayyyy more rounds during his career than Wlad did. Ali was a good boxer no doubt but the guy is insanely overrated if you look at the actual facts and his career. If you still can that is and haven’t been brainwashed by the parroted “He’s The Greatest!” Lol Because he’s not.
Ali was on the slide in the 70`s yet Wlad never matched his performance v Foreman or the victory over Frazier in the second fight.
Joe wasn't the same for the rematch, FOTC took more out the winner plus Foreman had yo yo'd Frazier by 74 too
He wasn't, he had matured, he was 28/29 for Frazier 1 and stronger than the 60's, not as fast maybe or fleet of foot but that would've happened any way as he got bigger/heavier
A man that could match his height and jab(Norton), imagine Wlad bouncing power jabs on little Ali...Bowdiddly would be in tears ringside for this one
Part of that willingness to trade was born of necessity. If he had Wlads one punch power, it would've been worse.