When Ali was stripped of his belts & boxing license for not serving in the armed forces, did he lose his prime years & did we not really see the best of what Ali had to offer? What do you think?
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When Ali was stripped of his belts & boxing license for not serving in the armed forces, did he lose his prime years & did we not really see the best of what Ali had to offer? What do you think?
yes--he was stripped of his title just about when he was gonna start reaching his prime--woulda been prime when he faced joe at 29--but never got 2 reach his prime
Wander how good he could have been if it wasn't for that.
Just think though, if he hadn't been banned then Joe Frazier may have never become champ and we would have missed out on some of the greatest fights in boxing history.
I think there is no question we missed out on Ali's best years. I think there was no question that his lightning speed and amazing reflexes were diminished, relatively speaking that is, when he came back. I've always wondered why he didn't just fight outside of the US during those years.
Well being American he probably wasn't aware that there were other countries out there :PQuote:
Originally Posted by VanChilds
Maybe thats why he was scared of going to Vietnam, in case it didn't exist and his ship would crash off the edge of the world 100 miles off shore from the states.
Quote:
Originally Posted by VanChilds
Ali was scared of airplanes.Quote:
Originally Posted by bilbo
Ali was never stripped of his Ring world title until he announced his retirement, clearing the way for Frazier & Ellis to fight for the vacant title. But definately he lost his best years during that period, just imagine how much we missed out on. Ali is aguably the greatest heavyweight ever but just imagine just much more we would have seen in those 4 years
Ali scared of airplanes??? no he wasnt remember the scene in Rumble in Jungle which is actual footage of him being suprised when he walked into the cockpit to find out his pilot was Black?Quote:
Originally Posted by drgoodlooking
other celebs who are deathly afraid to fly: John Madden, R. Kelly, Ritchie Valens
that is true tho for the record ALI was robbed of his prime years, so when anyone hates on him or says he's not the Greatest no one can really deny that, cuz it would of always be a mystery just how GREEEEEEEEEAT he could of been. would of defeated smokin joe the first time and we would never see one of the greatest triologies of all time!!!!
I agree bro, would have been to good for Frazier without the inforce break. May have even threatened Louis' title steak.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBESTP4P
yes we missed his prime years, but even before and past his prime he had his greatest victories.
Agreed, but its always nice to think about what could have beenQuote:
Originally Posted by P.G.H Angel Eyes
I think we know how good he could have been after seeing the footage of him against fighters like Cleveland 'Big cat' Williams, the awful beating he gave the giant Ernie Terrell etc, before he was stripped of his title. His handspeed was something you just never see in a heavyweight.
Fully extended punches as well, not short arm jabs or hooks.
I remember an interview where a young Joe Bugman talked about how Ali didn't punch hard prior to their first fight, after the fight where he lost a decision he was asked if Ali was soft puncher, he remarked, No, he's not a soft puncher, he punches pretty hard, he's not the hardest puncher I have fought though, the problem is you don't see them coming and then your heads knocked back.
I have to agree with what some of you lads already said about Smokin' Joe, I don't think he would have got a look in if Ali had been allowed to keep his licence. Ali would have fought him earlier as well, before Joe would have had the heart and confidence from being the champ. However as you guys said, Ali could not have achieved his legacy if it wasn't for the lay off and the defeat just three fights into a disgracefully enforced three year lay off.
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 arse 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 ;)
Well said bro...Quote:
Originally Posted by BK
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.
True. Too bad it didn't work for Tyson.Quote:
Originally Posted by BK
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
I agree, he would have come the closest to challenging them.Quote:
Originally Posted by undefeated
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.