Muhammed Ali: Did he miss his prime years?

I vaguely remember an interview where Ali said he wouldn't have beaten Frazier during the exile years.
He mentioned being stronger physically and mentally compared to his younger self.

Ironically, ali would have been at his absolute best in 1968/9. :o

You could see in 1967, he had filled out just right, his speed was still there & he would have matured in 1968/9 into a practically unbeatable force.

He would have fought Joe Frazier around about this time too & the result would have been different. :band:

im not sure about how much greater he could have been but it was certainly prime years he lost in chich he could of and would have had more of the biggest fights of his career cos he was ready for em, i think there would have been more names on the list but at least it was good that he could still do it at 32 eh.

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Originally Posted by BK

He may of lost some of his best years in the ring; but it made him a Great.

From 1967 to 1970 Ali turned from a grade A a*** hole into a decent personality and showman, that would become beloved by virtually all. And a man like the Beatles, who for a while was literally bigger than everything or anyone on the planet ;)

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True. Too bad it didn't work for Tyson.

lol but tyson was just funny .. especially in the later years god bless tyson;D

a prime ali would have beaten marciano's undefeated record and joe louis title defense record.....easily

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Originally Posted by undefeated

a prime ali would have beaten marciano's undefeated record and joe louis title defense record.....easily

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I agree, he would have come the closest to challenging them.

i agree with the lesser statement he would have had a decent chance of beating marciano's record but lets not forget that marciano was before ali and the level of competition in the hw division was a step up from then! but with his skill at marciano's time remembering that marciano was probably the best and apart from jesey joe probably some of the only real greats of the time.

He was the most famous man on the planet, and still probably still is. To me that says it all. It will be a sad day when we loose him

oh yeh if nothing else( which i dont mean its more a figure of speech) he'll be remembered for bieng the most charasmatic and etertaining of em all! imagine what the press conferences would be like today if he was at prime age and boxing in this generation!
and yer its a real wierd thought about how you would feel the day that ali dies.