Quote Originally Posted by Britkid
Quote Originally Posted by sumguy
Thats interesting......when Ali was out.......the people prob realised what they were missing.

But BritKid i would have to disagree that the time out made him into a better fighter.
The guy basically didnt expect to fight in the ring again.

The time out wasnt good for him physically, his doctor knew that.
Its like when you are working out, you dont feel the pain. But when you stop, is when the body aches.
I suggested he became a better person. IMO if had continued to fight, with the attitude he had, he was heading down the same path that Malcolm X and King trod...

And although he may of missed out on his absolute peak as a fighter, Ali would not be considered the fighter he was without the the 70s. Sure he was seemingly unbeatable in 66/67, but he had redemption in the 70s, a quality that helped him become the biggest phenomenon in the planet at one time. That probably would not of happened if had continued to box between 67 and 70.
thats a good point Britkid made there, because had he not retired Ali-Foreman would of not been as big a upset as it was because Ali would of probably been champion then.
Anyway, maybe that layoff was good because it gave Ali's body a rest...it could of been had he kept fighting, he would of had more ware and tare on his body and by the time he would of fought someone like George Foreman he would of been shot thus losing. He was 32 by then, so that layoff could of done some good.