What fights can I see the best version of Ali/Clay there ever was?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by OMGWTF, Nov 13, 2012.


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  1. Bill Butcher

    Bill Butcher Erik`El Terrible`Morales Full Member

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    All Ali fights from Liston I in 1964 to Folley in 1967, particularly Ali vs Williams in 1966 & vs Terrell in 1967.

    Mildenberger (1966) probably gave him the most difficulty style wise in that period but even in that fight Ali looked a class apart & took care of business eventually.
     
    Bill Butcher, Mar 29, 2013
    Bill Butcher, Mar 29, 2013
    #61
  2. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I guess a lot of people like the fights he won as opposed to the one he lost but who was like Frazier in fight 1, Frazier was fit, well conditioned and his left hook was on point with snap, quickness, power and drive....We can take the Ali vs Terrel or Manilla or the Foreman fight but could he beat the Frazier of the FOTC IMO no, I don't think any version of Ali beats that Frazier...pressure and stamina and a great left hook being the key...Frazier was off a bit in Manila and no where as sharp
     
    Bummy Davis, Mar 30, 2013
    Bummy Davis, Mar 30, 2013
    #62
  3. Shake

    Shake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think Liston I was Ali's best match. He built it up beautifully.
     
    Shake, Mar 31, 2013
    Shake, Mar 31, 2013
    #63
  4. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    FOTC Ali displayed some sharp punching and movement early on, but was gassing by round 2 and fought a very stupid fight tactically. By any sane estimate, that night's version of Ali was some distance off the best versions of Ali.

    Ali was better against Patterson (1965), Folley, Terrell and even Chuvalo (1966) in almost every conceivable way really. Ali didn't even fight a mature fight in FOTC, but actually his most immature one considering the challenge he faced. His perfomance in this fight gets very overrated just in order to hype Frazier.

    Manilla saw an older and slower Ali, but at least an Ali that actually used his considerable boxing IQ. Give me that version instead of FOTC Ali any day of the week.

    It's true that FOTC saw the best version of Frazier of any of the fights against Ali, though.
     
    Bokaj, Mar 31, 2013
    Bokaj, Mar 31, 2013
    #64
  5. Shawn Kemp

    Shawn Kemp Guest

    The best version of Ali was the one with him laying against the ropes hoping and praying Foreman got tired or the one with Ken Norton winning 3 times against him and getting robbed 2 times. Or the first fight with Joe Frazier. Or the one with Doug Jones a blown up light heavyweight pushing him around the ring or finally the fight with 180 or so odd pound Henry Cooper walking through the great boxing god Ali's punches and basically knocking out Ali wtih one punch.
     
    Shawn Kemp, Mar 31, 2013
    Shawn Kemp, Mar 31, 2013
    #65
  6. BillB

    BillB Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I think the second Liston fight defined Ali like no other.

    He was awarded a KO victory that never happened. Liston was not counted out.

    He avoided disqualification despite repeatedly refusing to follow the referee's instructions to go to a neutral corner. Once he did go, he wouldn't stay.
    Al-in-all a great night for the Greatest.
     
    BillB, Mar 31, 2013
    BillB, Mar 31, 2013
    #66
  7. Bill Butcher

    Bill Butcher Erik`El Terrible`Morales Full Member

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    Save that **** for the general.
     
    Bill Butcher, Mar 31, 2013
    Bill Butcher, Mar 31, 2013
    #67
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