Which fight damaged Ali's health the most?

I've watched this fight enough times to disagree with this assessment. The idea going into the fight was to control the centre of the ring, not to lay against the ropes and take a pounding. Now I do agree that many of the headshots missed, because the ropes were loose, but certainly Ali was hit with some hilarious body punches, over and over again. Ali may have landed more volume of punches, but they certainly weren't anywhere near as hard as Foreman's were.

 

If he outboxed him the whole fight why was he on the ropes for a most of it. Ever hear the term rope a dope, this is where it came from. The plan going into the fight was for Ali to stay off the ropes and control the centre of the ring. That's hardly what happened. Anyway, rather than argue with you and Perry about what happened, I'm going to watch it now and comment after I've seen it again.

 

They thought they were doing him a favor by always giving him the close decisions, which if he had lost a couple of those fights he might've been encouraged to quit sooner. After the third Norton fight there was no reason to carry on at all. He looked terrible that night and the world should have told him so.

 

Let me ask you a question. How is it possible that the fastest heavyweight of all time became a punching bag for 10 years? It dosen't make any sense.

 

Again....Ali was ahead on the scorecards after seven rounds. Punching bags don't win rounds.

 

Well I re watched the fight, and yes Ali was winning, and yes, he took less punishment than I had remembered, but he still was hit with 3-4 good shots in the 3rd round near the beginning of the round and another 3-4 bodyshots near the end, was also hit pretty good in the 4th round. So no he wasn't a punching bag, but he still absorbed more punishment than most could. Foreman had destroyed both Frazier and Norton and his punching power is legendary, so I don't know how he could have the fight without taking a fair amount of punishment, even if he was out punching Foreman. They're hardly in the same league when it comes to power, and I'm sure Frazier would attest to.

Also took some "vicious rights to the body in round 5." Upon discussions with the ref Zack Clayton, he indicated that Foreman was pounding the left hands into his kidneys, over and over again to the point where he was wondering how much more of this Ali could take,

It was then that Ali said is that as hard as you can hit? And then Foreman switched to using his right, and Foreman essentially punched himself out by the 6th.

Very tactical and interesting fight.

 

The thought was Ali would dance and box which Ali aside from parts of round one did not do.

Round one he pot shotted George but found Foreman quicker than anticipated, the ring canvas heavily padded making moving impossible without exhausting himself and he was constantly being driven to the ropes and corners. By the end of round one he was already tiring and George was throwing atom bombs.

In the corner Ali knew he could not avoid Foreman so he brilliantly decided to meet him head on. Round two he immediately went to the ropes and George followed. From round 2-5 Ali alternated fighting defense and offense at ring perimeter. Sometimes laying on the ropes blocking while others landing scintillating combos to Foremans chin staggering him in rounds 4 and 5.

After round 5 Ali saw George was exhausted and he started side stepping along the ropes as George just followed Ali around taking jab after jab and punch after punch. Only in round 7 did Ali cower, cover and hold in an effort to clear his vision from a Fireman thumb. Round 8 started like round 6. Ali casually defending himself, landing sharp combos and using the rings perimeter as Foreman once again followed him around.

That was the fight.

 

^ we're essentially saying the same thing. It's just a question of how much punishment Ali took and whether or not any man can take several combinations to the body from Foreman without any lasting effects.

 

Not to say this was an easy win for Ali. IMO very very few hwt champions would have beaten Foreman that night. He was hwt champion. Undefeated. Supremely confident at the height of his physical prime......and the guy threw atom bombs. I believe Ali was two rounds away from being koed fighting the way he did in round one. Just a matter of time before a devastating blow would have landed. Instead Ali decided to controll the action and exhaust George instead of himself. It was a winning strategy.

 

Of course it was a easy win for Ali because he toyed with Foreman. He wasn't even serious! Ha.

Now imagine a serious and prime Ali up against Foreman. The mummy would be going backwards.

 

It's a very simple answer. He got old.

 

This is very true however it did seem Ali fought great when he had to and fought good enough to win against lower level opposition. After Foreman Ali used the ropes when he had to to rest. In Manilla he fought off the ropes many times beating Joe to the punch with short hard blows. Against lyle Ali introduced "the Mirage". Sort of a ropeadope mid ring. In his second reign Ali's best wins were against Frazier, Shavers and Lyle. The win against Frazier coming back to win under such harsh conditions cemented Ali as an all time great fighter.

 

Still not logical. Ali was still fast post exile. Watch his exhibition fight against Micheal Dokes in 1977. He dodged 21 punches in 10 seconds!

 

No, perry. Ali instantly became a ATG when he first beat Sonny Liston. He achieved greatness in that fight.

 

Trollololol ... and not even a good one :verysad