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With gene editing, there might very well be a 160 pounder that could defeat any current or past heavyweight. But just naturally or even with PEDs available now, probably not.

 

When I see it mentioned the poster in question quickly gets corrected by someone who knows better. It seems to me that the consensus among the regulars here is that doesn't count for much. As Langford himself said: "I was just a boy". But let's see, I might be proven wrong soon.

 

He was in there with a ghost.

 

I agree completely with this!
IF it was just against someone near or a little over 200 lbs., all advantages besides genetic alterations might do it.
Ali would likely have at least just enough natural size-& natural talent-that at least prime for prime would not lose.

 

I mean, Walcott or the CW version of Holyfield could have been competitive against prime or near prime Ali.

 

The Chinese are starting to experiment with gene editing. Here in the west, we are worried about "muh ethics". But I can see in the next 30 years or so, the Chinese trotting out some genetically enhanced boxer that's 160, but has the strength and punching power of a prime George Foreman, the chin of a prime Ray Mercer and the speed and agility and punching accuracy of a prime Sugar Ray Robinson and his skin is impervious to cutting, so it's impossible for him to be stopped on cuts. Such a 160 pound fighter could likely lay waste to Ali, Lennox Lewis, Wlad Klitschko etc.

 

If you specify "near prime" & if you say competitive, that is very possible.
However Holyfield weighed approaching the then CW limit of 190-he was 186 & 187 weighing in for each Qawi fight, & he may have been more in the ring.
Maybe near what prime Wolcott was (this was during the era of same day weigh ins, which was in the mid 190's.

Do you realize that in this thread we are discussing whether a man whose in ring/actual weight of 160 could beat prime Ali?
That is a big difference from what CW Evander or Jersey Joe weighed!

 

Yeah I was replying to when you said that someone near 200 pounds might be able to do the trick (or something to that effect)

 

Oh OK sorry! But I did mean someone just under, like right near the usual CW limit-or up to ~ 205, which gets into prime Frazier & Louis territory.
Among those you mentioned, I think Holyfield near 190 would have a better chance than slighly heavier Wolcott, just because neither is stopping Ali, but Evander threw more punches.

 

Ha ha, true. But Baer definitely said something of this ilk when he was beaten up by Joe Louis. Funny you should mention the quote-dump though, as only the other day I was talking about a quote I knew from John Conteh growing up, which went (something like): "I spent a lot of money on loose women, booze and fast cars. The rest I wasted". All-of-a-sudden this became a quote by very talented / albeit overrated footballer 'George Best', even to the point where I think he said it years later on a TV interview, long after he'd been 'quote-dumped' with it.

 

A ghost would have landed more punches.

 

I like this fight too. Some vintage jabbing by Ali in this fight, especially in the 2nd half of the bout. I like a lot of Ali's 'comeback before title' fights actually, his punch output is really high in many of them, and often higher than during his first title reign, and he's certainly throwing more power punches (due to him moving around less of course, but I typically find it better to watch, personally) and these fights I find a lot more repeat-viewable than most of the defences during his 2nd title reign.

Although it was always interesting that Dundee referred to Ali as 'Clay' numerous times when he was in Ellis' corner during the fight's build-up- obviously something Ali didn't mind if it was said by people he was comfortable with (or if it helped the gate).