When was Ali at his best during 1970's? How close did he get to his 60's form?

He was at his best in the first 2 Frazier fights, the Norton rematch, and the Foreman fight.

I think he was like 85-90% of what he was in his prime, but that 10% can be telling when fighting the competition he was fighting.

 

His speed may have been down as much as 5% which makes a big difference. Thats the difference of a sprinter running a nine and a half second hundred meters and a ten second.

 

He was close probably 85-90 percent. He had to adjust his game a little and be smarter when he got a little slower in the early 1970s.

 

Ali vs Frazier 1 + 2.

 

I'd also add Quarry 2 to one of his best 70s performances.

 

I'd say that between 1972-74,Ali reached 90% of his 1967 best.

I'm thinking of the following bouts -

Jerry Quarry 2
Ken Norton 2
Joe Frazier 2
George Foreman

 

Beat me to it ...

 

This was the fight where a lot of us became confident that Ali would turn the tables on Frazier in a rematch.

 

Ali was still a little rusty in the first fight with Frazier.

 

It is interesting to speculate that whilst Ali had indeed lost a tad of Speed, from is 60's youth, did he not compensate for this with physical maturity, being stronger and harder hitting in the early 70s?

The problem is that in asessing Ali in he 70's is that he rarely turned it fully on after his comeback, in some fights, with the roadshow mentality prevailing Ali sometimes only turned it on in selected rounds, Fraizer 1st (9th) Quarry 2nd (6th) Patterson 2nd (6th) Blue Lewis, Frazier 2nd, Norton 2nd Foreman, Lyle, all featured a "Full Capability" Ali in selected round Spurts, Later on Ali suffered from bad knuckles which influanced him to coast,

Bu Ali of the early 70's, when on full throttle was not that far adrift of 60's Ali for speed, but may of been more rounded because of the added strength and hitting power, His Speed/mobility in Chuvalo 1st and Chuvalo 2nd were comparable.

Would Terrell have gone the distence with Frazier 1st Ali ? i doubt it. With Ali fighting better opporsition post exile maybe the question should be - would the young 60's speedster have coped as well as the mature Ali with this better post exile opporsition ?

One things or sure, without a break/rust, the capabilities of a 1969 model Peak Ali would of been frightening.

 

71-74.

I think that ali was as good as ever. He fought different game plans but his level of competition was much higher than from 64-67.

I think prime for prime i'd always favour frazier to beat him.