What if Ali had no existed. How would the HW division have shaped up?

Odd observation. The Alphabets came about because Ali was exiled, with Terell holding the distinction of being the first WBA alphabet non-lineal heavyweight champion. If Ali were not around, perhaps there would be no WBA or WBC, only one champion.

Ali is too iconic. Without him we have no super fight in 1971 with Fraizer, or the rumble in the jungle with Foreman.

 

Who was that a response to?

 

Why is the suggestion of Holmes taking the control of the H/W division so late... '78?

I believe he may have taken control in the later stage of '76...

 

Well, he didn't start meeting world class opposition before '77 really, did he? It seems to me that it was his win over Shavers that really put him on the map, and that was in '77.

Also, I think that Foreman would be matched quite carefully, as he allways was. He would take on the mandatory defenders, but avoid guys like Holmes (and possibly Young) as far as possible. And Holmes wasn't mandatory before '78.

I think Foreman's reign might have looked pretty much like this if Ali wasn't around:

October 1974 - takes on Quarry (the mandatory) andd beats him.

1975 - Lyle and a rematch with Frazier

1976 - An easier year. Perhaps contends himself with Bugner, who might actually take him the ddistance in a dull fight.

1977 - Shavers, and after that possibly Young.

1978 (in case he doesn't lose to Young) Holmes. In all likelyhood a bridge to far.

In case he loses to Young in '77, he mounts a comeback and gets the chance at Holmes in '79 or '80. Holmes wins.

 

i agree with janitor here

becaus ethink about it foreman is the best out their and is KOing everyone with ease he startes getting complacent stops training and bang an upset

 

There is no real evidence that Foreman was more complacent than anyone else, and furthermore he was always very carefully managed. I think that that combined gives him a reign to 1977-1978.

 

im not talking about foreman in particular i mean that would happen to any champion

 

Sure. But in Foreman's case I'll give him to '77 or '78 on account that he would be selective but still able to beat the ones he had to take on uptil then. Hell, Patterson was champ for 5 years all in all, but it was hardly a glorius reign.

Thing is, Foreman might well have been a lesser name today if it wasn't for Ali. If he had stayed champion until meeting Young and then trying unsuccesfully to reclaim it from Holmes, retired and never attempting a comeback, he would be seen as a good, but limited, champion. Well, many see him as that today to be honest, but there wouldn't be the same aura around him.

 

If Ali hadn't existed, neither would Holmes, his pupil.

Foreman would have reigned supreme in the '70s and broken Rocky's record.

As I have said before, he still finds Jesus after either a loss or close-call win and becomes lovable anyhow, his wide grin filling the Earth as one of the very greatest champions of all times.