Where would you rate Ali if every close fight had gone against him?

How do you score it?

 

Fine post. I agree with you totally. That second fight with Norton was the best performance,up to that point,from Muhammad since the sixties.

 

In Muhammad Ali's peak years, 1964-1967, none of those close decisions that occurred in the 1970's would have been potential losses, he would have decisioned both Ken Norton and Jimmy Young quite handily, Ali was in better shape for fights back then, he did his roadwork and sparring. He would have not knocked out Norton and Young because he was not a devastating puncher, plus he had all of his physical gifts, timing, speed, stamina, reflexes, and footwork.

 

I once made a thread and a poll on scoring for the 2nd fight, and not one person who voted for Norton was able to put fourth a scorecard or a round by round analysis.