I find his best years to be from 1964 to 1967. Amazing how well he fought on March 8, 1971. He was IMO already just 85% of the boxer who fought Liston 6-7 years earlier. Understandably.

So I feel after ANOTHER loss (Norton 1), it is beyond amazing he whipped Foreman THREE AND A HALF YEARS after the first Frazier fight. I can then see him avenging Frazier and Norton but that should have been it. So I'd say he shoulda hung the gloves up after beating Norton and Joe in the rematches. No rubber matches, tho we'd've then missed The Thrilla.