Quote Originally Posted by jdonaher1 View Post
A prime Ali (circa mid 60's) is just to quick and too great of a boxer. Ali's chin was also insane so even if Joe did get to Ali I don't see him stopping him. Ali finishes the job that the super over rated Billy Conn was doing to Louis for 10+ rounds but Ali finishes the job. W15

The kind of fighter I think has the best chance to beat Ali is guys with great long jabs (ala Larry Holmes or Lennox Lewis). Not saying those 2 would beat Ali just that those style would be harder on him. Ken Norton was life and death with and Ali that was just past his prime. Ken was very awkward and threw lots of punches.

Most people won't agree with me but I still think the version of Tyson before his life went insane (pre Spinks fight) would have given Ali a very hard fight. Mike was so fast and hit so hard I really think he might have beaten him. I'm sure Ali would frustrateTyson eventually but it's not a given he wins. If they fight 5 times I say Ali goes 3-1-1 in those fights.
I wouldn't say Muhammad Ali was past his prime in the early 70's, i mean he did have some struggles in the 60's aswell, against Doug Jones, Henry Cooper, Karl Mildenberger.

He was coming off good performances against Bob Foster, Floyd Patterson, Jerry Quarry, before he fought Ken Norton. And he did not show any signs of being past his prime in any of those fights, and after the two tough fights vs Ken Norton. He handily beat Joe Frazier in there 2nd fight.