Master, here are a few heavyweights that would bother Ali or even beat him: Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko....and Evander Holyfield. I'm using what everyone always uses on Rocky Marciano...those guys are bigger than Ali(bar Evander), they hit harder than Ali, they are close in athletic ability, and they are stronger than Ali. If they wouldn't have beaten him they would surely have given him a hard fight.
I think Prime Ali-Prime Holyfield would be a war! Evander had Joe Frazier's work ethic, but was bigger and could box a bit.
ElTerribleMorales, you're shittin me....Sonny Liston is famous for beating Floyd Patterson twice (formerly of 175) and getting absolutely destroyed twice by Ali...who could Liston beat today
Just because your division is weak doesn't mean you're a bad champion or a poor champion, see Larry Holmes, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis...those guys would be great in any era (of course you have to realize Rocky wouldn't be a heavyweight these days).
Me too, Holmes' era was better than todays easily.
As for the Klits against Ali, they would get destroyed. Foreman was bigger and stronger than Ali and hit harder than both Klits and look what happened to him. He is also an ATG unlike them.
Of everyone Lyle mentioned the only one i'd give a chance with Ali in his prime (which would have fallen when he was banned but thats a different argument) is Evander. Ali was the greatest HW i've ever seen as far as adapting to his opponent went, and although Ali isn't the hardest hitting HW he still had good underrated power. But Holyfield could change any fight into a war and that might and it's a big might just benefit him against Ali.
rjjtszyu, Ali was bigger than Foreman AND George didn't box back in those days. I specifically selected the Klitschko's because they use their height and reach and are good technically sound fighters. It is my belief that Ali had more trouble with guys who could box a bit...the Klitschko's can box but they also have legit KO power which would have to bother Ali, I'm not saying they would always win but they would always do well.
Holmes' era was ok, but he had the same problem that the Klitschko's currently have. The competition they have right now are young and inexperienced.
I just think Evander Holyfield is the closest thing we could get to Joe Frazier in terms of his will to win.
Well I agree with you on Holyfield but for a start, Foreman was Bigger than Ali, he was 1/2 inch taller had a 82" inch reach which is 2" more than Ali (and both Klits for that matter) and when they fought he weighed in 4 lbs heavier than Ali but had drained to quite a light weight for Foreman to supposedly help his speed with Ali and his next fight against Ron Lyle (one of the greatest HW fights of all time IMO) he weighed in 6 lbs heavier than he did against Ali. Also he was only 25 so he had not finished growing by any means, whereas when Ali was 25 he weighed a full 10lbs+ less than Foreman, so how was Ali bigger?
Also Foreman didn't box in those days? Why don't you go and watch some of Foremans other fights, he used to work his jab very, very well and set up the bombs with it, kind of like in the way Wlad does but he made it a lot more exciting because he wasn't as safety first as Wlad is these days. He just couldn't figure out Ali's style but not many could, as it changed from fight to fight. A lot of people seem to have this warped idea that Foreman was just a slugger. Far from it, he was a very effective boxer who set everything up behind a solid jab, the thing was nothing went far because what he did follow it up with was so hard it seemed to get rid of his opponent.
Added to that Ali handled Ernie Terrell who was 6ft6" with ease.
Do not let success go to your head and do not let failure get to your heart.
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