Would Muhammud Ali had Undefeated career if title had not been taken away 1967-1970

Doesn't matter, he can't topple his greatness I think.

Him coming back from the loss at the hands of Frazier made him even greater.

 

Its possible but Frazier was a very good fighter at his peak,that would have always been a very close fight.

 

He was reaching his peak phyically, one can only imagine an undefeated streak within the time of his inactivity.

But then again, who knows? Frazier was really really good.

 

Whatever had happened, if he'd still signed up for the Larry Holmes fight he would have been battered

 

:good

 

I do not think so. A fight with Frazier would be difficult anyway, and apart from that Norton had his numbers. Also, I have the impression that because he had those 3 years taken away, the judges were quite generous for him late (for example Norton III, Young).

 

odds are that you are right about those 4 years making him even greater. But at the same time his greatness is in part defined by that 4 yaer layoff and how he was able to come back from it.

Its a tough call.

 

Never thought about it that way "his greatness is in part defined by that 4 year layoff.." And I think that 4 year layoff made him hungrier as did the loss to Frazier. But no, I don't think he would have retired undefeated and I think he probably would've lost within that 4 year period due to taking someone lightly or just the fact that he really did take on all comers (somebody's got your number-don't matter who you are).

 

He probably wouldn't have lost a fight till age caught up with him, but then his fights with Frazier and Foreman would have seemed easier and detract from the Ali legend.

 

No way, i even believe he would even have more losses on his resume and maybe would never even be concidered the goat!
Don't forget that his layoff was a major part of his legacy and populairity... That circumstances fell perfectly into place, and that maybe the harder fights weren't scored in his favour like they did in the second part of his career.
And that was the part what is called the 'golden age'.

Have some of you ever take a moment to think about what would have happened when Ali - Norton II was scored correctly for Norton?

 

What he lost in terms of movement, I think he gained in terms of intangibles and mental toughness as a result of the layoff. I think going from being "just" a heavyweight champion to having the motivating factor of being a national symbol actually helped improve his resolve, just like the loss from Frazier did.

And, given the firestorm around him during that time period, not fighting might've also helped him by eliminating the prospect of a letdown fight during that time period. Since alot of people give him the same amount of credit as if he were fighting and winning during that time span, I don't think there's anywhere his legacy could've went but down had he actually fought during that time- people already figured he was unbeatable, so where was the upside of any possible fight to be made during those ears?

 

He very well could have went undefeated for those years ,he was just coming into his prime years and tapping into his what we now know to be the greatness he had .Its a shame we as fans and he himself as an athlete will never know.I do think that had he not layed off the Frazier fight would have been a lot different.Im not saying Joe couldnt have won it because he could have ,he was a gret fighter in his own right.But you would have to wonder would Ali's legs been a lot more mobile then they were in that fight had he been active all that time.It will always be one of the historical "what if's " boxing seems to have a lot of.As for a whole undefeated career that i dont think so i am referring to the lost years....

 

No.

He would have lost eventually.

Certainly not to Joe (they would have met a year or two earlier had it not been for his exile).

I think he would have gone undefeated till about 75 or 76. But he would have stayed on too long and eventually lost to a Leon Spinks type. He just couldn't give up the limelight.

Undefeated or not, he's still the greatest.