Was Muhammad Ali the fastest heavyweight of all time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mark ant, Jul 3, 2019.



  1. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    If there’s been an all round faster heavyweight than Ali then I haven’t seen him.
     
  2. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali was the fastest, and yes, faster than Patterson.
     
  3. Heisenberg

    Heisenberg Well-Known Member Full Member

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  4. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    But that's not on film. And that's just it, ALI WASN'T CLOSE TOO PRIME. And was in the early stages of Parkinson's..... A young up and comer like Dokes Should've been able to handle that version of Ali ....
     
  5. HOUDINI

    HOUDINI Boxing Addict Full Member

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    FYI......Cruiserweight limit is 200 lbs. Ali’s prime weight was well above that.
     
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  6. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It’s sparring. No one takes it’s seriously. Maybe the young Dokes was too intimidated to go all out on a legendary fighter like Ali. Anyway when did this sparring take place?
     
  7. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Late 70's 77-78 I think.
     
  8. Entaowed

    Entaowed Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Nah, Very most prime fights, Ali was 211-214 lbs.
     
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  9. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    Dokes was 19, still filling out and had only 5 pro fights behind him. I think it would be safe to say not many with 5 pro fights were going to handle even this version of Ali. Dokes was still a kid really albeit a promising one.
     
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  10. Pat M

    Pat M Active Member Full Member

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    Dokes was 19 at the time, Ali was 35. Dokes acted like the employee, Ali was the employer, if Dokes had opened up...it probably wouldn't have ended well for Ali.
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    Last edited: Aug 9, 2019
  11. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    If I'm honest, I don't put much stock in that speed "test" they did via movie camera's. So many variables could've contributed to the results being off the mark some, that I can't read too much into it. The live test they did, seems impressive, but the problem there is, nobody else took that same test under those same conditions to compare, so it's more or less meaningless. That said, even if those tests are marginally helpful, that, in addition to my eyes tell me he was the fastest.
     
  12. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I can’t for the life of me understand how anyone as a comparison could ever take that footage seriously.
     
  13. Jackomano

    Jackomano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not even close. Relative to his size Ali is one of the fastest heavyweights ever, but if we‘re talking about all heavyweights of all sizes plenty of the smaller heavyweights throughout history had better handspeed and faster footwork.
     
  14. Tonto62

    Tonto62 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    I think Patterson and Dokes had faster hands. Tyson would not be far behind either.Herbie Hide was fast.Tony Tubbs had quick hands.
     
  15. HOUDINI

    HOUDINI Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Dokes did his best to hit Ali, and he couldn’t. There is no information anywhere that states Dokes was not trying to hit Ali. So once again Pat makes up everything as he goes.

    Issue is there is only one technical analysis that compares a hwt champions hand speed vs an ATG very fast middleweight. That analysis was complete comparing the jab speed of prime Ali and SRR. Ali’s jab was determined to be much quicker. Ali had the fastest hands and quickest footwork of any hwt champion before or since. Aside from this just watching Ali in his prime should be enough to fully understand he was head and shoulders above any of the walking statues we have had as “hwt champion” today. No comparison whatsoever.
     
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