Ali would have dominated in any era, save for a few.
He had middleweight speed and heavyweight power, a chin with no equal, tenacity and ring generalship. (Those who think he lacked power consider carefully the right leads landed in round one of Ali-Foreman, and the eventual knock-out, and the fact that Ali preferred the show of a long drama versus a short fight. If further proof is needed, consider "the phantom punch" in Ali-Liston 2......watch in slow motion, and pay attention to mighty Liston's head when the temple shot lands.)
The only question with Ali is, who would be able to challenge him from any era?
The Kiltschkos? Please, not even in the same league.
Tyson? When questioned about it, Tyson said not a chance, that Ali was like a tyrannosaurus who would drag you out in deep water.
The only modern fighter who would give Ali a good match would be Lennox Lewis, who really was a fine technician and had good power in both hands. But Ali would still beat him, with superior speed and skill.
Historically, there were a lot of fine fighters. Jack Johnson was truly amazing in his prime. But Ali would outclass him despite the former's hard punching power.
Ali himself, when questioned on historic fighters, laughed at most of them, feeling (predictably) that he could 'wup all of them.
Except for one.
Marciano.
When Howard Cosell asked him about Marciano, Ali became very humble, and said "Marciano might beat me....I don't know". He said he had trouble with Frazier (a swarmer style) and that Marciano was much better than Frazier.
Frazier himself ranked Marciano and number two (after Joe Louis) and ahead of himself and Ali.
Remember, although it was a publicity stunt more than anything, Ali actually did spar with Marciano. And even 'though Marciano was older, fatter and no longer boxing, Ali gained a huge respect for Marciano from that first-hand experience. So, while we might feel Ali would dominate the slower, less-skilled, smaller, lighter and short-armed Marciano........both Frazier and Ali would disagree with us.
Then there is Joe Lewis. ANY heavyweight (Foreman, Frazier, Lewis.....etc.) all have said he was the best heavyweight of all time.
I think, after watching the Conn-Louis fight a bazillion times, that Ali should beat Louis the way Conn was beating him until the 12th round. Ali would be more skilled and faster. Ali dancing, Louis plodding around dragging his back foot. It would not surprise me if Ali beat Louis. Conn nearly did, and he made Louis look awful just by using dancing jabbing and slipping.
Of course, Conn learned the lesson....you can run,but you can't hide (coined by Louis,incidentally, just for Conn.) Louis could hit, and harder than anyone. So, if anyone could knock Ali down(and some did), then Louis could do so with all the greater result. Conn embarrassed Louis,but he still got knocked cold.
Anyway, it would be an interesting match, to say the least.I would lay money on Ali but be prepared to lose.
Oh,and by the way, after the aging Louis was beaten by Marciano, the topic was raised whether a young Louis would have schooled Marciano. Louis answered it himself, saying that he could never have beaten him at any time, as his own one weakness was dealing with a pressing infighter. He did not like to be crowded.
So, I think Ali's challenges would have be Joe Lewis, Rocky Marciano, and Lennox Lewis,
If ANY weight class would be allowed.....I would then add Harry Greb.
Harry would give any heavyweight a very tough night indeed.
Ali didn't have great power, so he wouldn't stop Vitali Klitschko. Vladimir would actually give him some problems with his size and power, but Ali would still beat both brothers by decision. He might stop Vladimir in the later rounds.
None of the rest of today's garbage heavyweights would have a chance to beat him.
Yea..in Boxing it was all about the heavyweights..there are a few good ones left..but none of them have put a dent in Klitchkos..Ali evented the rope a dope..and his swing like a butterfly sting like a bee..most of the boxers in this era has copied his style..but if he was young boxer fighting today..no one would be able to imitate his style and some boxers wouldn't know what hit em..
Yes. Ali would put a boxing clinic on all the current Heavyweights.
the man would empy the division in a year they probably wouldnt want to even fight ali most of em avoided chris byrd slickness so what the hell are they gona do with ali
yesss, absolutely!!!!
I actually think he easily could.
Boxers like Jack Johnson and Joe Louis would not fair well IMO, but Ali's style of Boxing, is actually timeless. He layed out the fundamentals, so many heavyweights today try to copy it but to no avail. 95% of the heavyweights today are very big, around 240lbs, but very, very slow.
Lennox Lewis actually said that the problem with them is that they tire out after 5 or 6 rounds, with the exception of the Klitschko brothers.
Ali in his prime was about 216lbs (not far off David Haye), but his style just looks so modern. I noticed that during the mid-50's, heavyweight boxing REALLY started to evolve.
The reason why the Klitschko's are so good, besides fighting a weak division, is that they have massive stamina advantages. And their jab, but size wise, they're not much taller than Ali. And their jabs are far slower (they have shorter reach than Ali too).
