Who'd Have Stood More Of Chance of Beating Prime Ali?

I don’t think either of them would but I’d give Evander Holyfield the better chance. At least he’d dig in closer and had a good left hook. Better defense. More hand speed and was generally better conditioned than Bowe.

 

Evan Fields.

 

Both would present problems that Ali didn’t necessarily encounter as and at the time of his prime - neither beats Ali but I agree the more rounded fighter Holyfield would be the more difficult opponent.

 

Riddick probably- though I don’t think either is intelligent enough to win.

 

Possibly either of them could have done it. If Bowe applied his size and nutshots ad lib. Holyfield at his best is just that good.

 

Like yourself I feel Holyfield would have given Muhammad a more competitive fight but would ultimately fall short.

 

I can't see Bowe doing well against a prime Ali, just look how Bowe struggled against a past it Tubbs who fought him on the outside. Bowe always had issues vs boxers if he couldn't fight his kind of fight on the inside.

Overall I think style wise the more athletic Holyfield at his best, would be more competitive vs Ali than Bowe would.

 

Not likely, but if I had to bet on anyone matching Ali's sheer will it would be Holyfield. I could see it ending up some near fight to the death like the Thrilla.

 

Roided Evander gives Ali a war.

 

The Holy that fought Bowe I. It wouid have been a really good fight to watch, but despite Holy probably giving Ali some shaky moments, I think MA would win a pretty clear UD. Ali was great at improvising, so when confronted with the more idiosyncratic parts of Holy's style I'm sure he would have both adapted and done whatever necessary for victory.

 

Not sure about beating the 66' version

 

It would be more than interesting to see how Ali would react to and deal with Evander's "free range" head -IF Holyfield can get close enough for an 'accidental' Liverpool Kiss.

 

Evander. I think holyfields best chance to beat prime Ali would be to catch him complacent. If it's 66 then there's no cruiserweight division. That means holyfield is the silver medal winning light heavy Olympian (theoretically) who then is fighting as a heavyweight.

So assuming evander is not coming into a challenge against Ali in 66 as a feared contender, but say as a last minute substitute for earnie Terrel, I could see him upsetting the Ali who had just dispatched the husk of Cleveland Williams and was in supreme confidence.

I also think Ali was more likely to underestimate guys smaller than him than someone bowes size. Every time he fought a really big intimidating guy he really seemed to come in ready to knock someone out.

So if all those things were in holyfields favor, plus maybe getting some benefit from the judges because Ali was not that popular during his physical prime with a lot of people in boxing, I could see evander win a close upset decision. Evander doesn't have the worst style for Ali either.