When did 70's ali look closest to his prime?

The art is to beat your opponent. Ali beat higher quality opponents in the 1970's. Thus, he was proven to be the better fighter in the 1970's. Sure, the 1960's Clay/Ali was flashier to the eye and made a pleasing foil for human punching bags. But I can't say that is exactly the measure of being a better fighter.

 

Again: Do you then think that Louis was at his best after the army when he beat his best opponent that he defeated, Walcott? Dempsey when he beat Sharkey? Tyson when he beat Ruddock?

Also - Ali in the 60's beat a champion that was then as feared as Louis and Tyson at their respective peaks (anything else is hindsight) and cleaned out the division as well as any champion ever. There really isn't much between what he did in 60's compared to the 70's. The main one is that he didn't lose in the 60's and had a much higher KO ratio (despite being a "flashy dancer").

I've had a measure of respect for you at times before, but on this topic you've just turned into a troll.

 

Louis beat better fighters before his time out of the ring
Ali beat better fighters after his time out of the ring

It can't be dumbed down any more than that. Surely you can follow this?

 

Who did Louis beat that was better than Walcott?

Who did Ali beat in the 70's that was better than Liston?

And as a bonus, tell me ANY athlete that's been out 3,5 years and came back better?

 

By virtue of the fact that you can hit and not get hit, means you beat your opponent. So what exactly is your point? Are you trying to claim Ali WANTED to take the punishment he did post ban? Frankly that is ridiculous.

He took those shots because he could no longer avoid them, NOT solely because of the quality of the opponents.

 

Yep. And he still managed to KO 23 out of 29 in the 60's, cleaning out the division in the process. What more can you ask for?

 

Ali was young and still fresh and had not fought any wars when he came back, his wars were waiting....Dempsey was rusty, lost his legs but still had his power and meanness, Louis had a long career, most title defenses 60+ fights, Tyson lost his team and went with the King Pimps and jail and trials and drugs

Liston may have been his best win, IMO opinion it was Foreman and the way he won it, Liston quitting on his stool and getting KO'd in 1 in the rematch either tells me 1) Liston was not as good as many think 2) took dives in both fights 3) had the bully heart taken away from him and gave up

I think Ali looked great against Foley,Williams,Terrel but none of those guys were at the level of Frazier nor possessed the style,pressure or power.

Ali went on to prove he could adapt and mature and IMO his mental toughness and bodily strength made up for the flash he may have lost but to answer the question of the post I would have to say the Foreman fight may have been his best win of the 70's and his best win ever, the FOTC in a losing effort may have been his greatest battle, neck and neck with Thrilla in Manilla but that version of both Ali and Frazier was a bit battle fatigued

 

always thought physically that he looked in best condition...I.e. ripped....in frazier rematch...fight 2.

http://www.bestboxingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Ali-beating-Frazier-in-1974.jpg

 

So, what you say is that Ali is the only fighter that improved a several year long lay-off - because he got stronger?

But the fact is he was about the same weight. He was a half pound heavier in FOTC than against Chuvalo in 1966, and not as cut. Dempsey, Louis and Tyson all put on more weight than that after their lay-offs.

And that Ali looked so good against Liston proves Liston really wasn't that good? So if Ali hadn't been quite as good, Liston had been better - which would make it a better win and Ali a better fighter. That's nice logic isn't it.

Fact is Liston looked better after losing to Ali than Foreman did. Foreman went life and death with Lyle and was embarrasses by Young, so who was really smoke and mirrors?

The main point is though that we all know that a long lay-off effects speed and stamina negatively. This we also can see on film concerning Ali, he said as much himself, his trainer did, his doctor did, opponents he met before and after did. What more is needed?

Does the fact that he put on half a pound fat change all this?

 

Sound logic. Circa 1972-74,Ali may have been the best he ever was since BEFORE the lay off,but not QUITE as good physically. It says much to his credit that a past prime Ali was still capable of beating the likes of Foreman and Norton who were,themselves,prime.

 

Ali beat Liston? News to me.

I will admit that he had his best fixed fights before his hiatus.

 

KO'ing human punching bags like a thoroughly shot Cleveland Williams comes nowhere close to KO'ing a prime Foreman or twice beating Frazier. It doesn't even come close to beating Quarry.

 

How about having a sparring partner who beat Quarry? Does that come close?

You're just trolling now anyhow and I've been taking the bait long enough. So I'll leave this with Ali's own words about it. From 8:10 in this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IcUTEgFVao