is Ali a myth or reality? plus other old guys

I think you have to take into consideration that Boxing was alot more popular back in the day than it is today, so for instance if you were the heavyweight champ, it meant you really were no1 in that division without several other associations laying claim on having their own champ. You also must consider that the fights lasted longer upto 15 rounds and referree's wouldn't stop fights unless it was completely obvious one guy had lost, which means there was alot more mental strength and stamina required from boxers back then. Then consider the social aspects of boxing and what it meant in openly racist societies like in the US until the late 60's or the larger gap between the wealthy and the poor, which made opportunities alot harder to come by for many boxers, then the lack of sports science & technology used around the globe to help prepair and pamper boxers like they are today. They couldn't study other fighters styles like they can today, so the preparation was totally different to what it is today. I think many people look on past boxers and the things they had to perservere through and add that to the equation when deliberating whether a modern boxer stands up against the old skool. If we're talking about straight skill sets, it's impossible not to consider these factors because I know for a fact that many of today's boxers would crumble under some of those conditions because boxers today are mentally 'soft' in comparison because they never had to go through that level of hardship on a daily basis.

what made Ali great is Ali himself. What made Ali greater is the fighters he faced in his time. Something that the present heavyweights sorely lack, quality depth.

Yet it's arguable that he lost all three fights with Norton and never fought anyone like the Klits. it is also arguable that if your gonna say that ali never fought anyone like the brothers, then you have to concede that the brothers have never fought anyone within lightyears of ali's skill and will. i could name you a few big tall heavys he fought with very good jabs but how many fighters can you name me that either klit has fought who remotley resembles ali. vitali couldnt even handle an out of shape lewis how the fack is him or his brother going to touch ali.

Ali is greater than every current fighter very true SRL and SRL in their primes would tear up all the WW's in this era.

You say he's never fought anyone like the klits.. But I dont see anything more then flat footed, hard punching guys, who stick there jab in your face, and throw the occasional straight, and even more occasional left hook. Your first mistake is lumping them together, when they fight absolutely nothing alike. Personally I think Vitali would be the easier fight for Ali. And I'm not saying Wlad beats him, but anyone who thinks he's an easy fight for Ali is delusional.

Yet it's arguable that he lost all three fights with Norton and never fought anyone like the Klits. You say he's never fought anyone like the klits.. But I dont see anything more then flat footed, hard punching guys, who stick there jab in your face, and throw the occasional straight, and even more occasional left hook.

TS has a point. It's almost that the old guns are untouchable around here. Mayweather and Pacman could hang with the the greatest of fighters in there divisions. I still think some HW'S are heavily overated around here...

Ali made a living dancing around guys like the klits. Yet it's arguable that he lost all three fights with Norton and never fought anyone like the Klits.

Ali made a living dancing around guys like the klits.

Wladimir has been knocked out twice and one of the reasons it has not happen again since is that he has not been tested there. Most of his last fights against very mediocre heavyweights he has not been hit. Also the fact that he was knocked out by average heavyweights to me proves he could be knocked out again. Prime Ali would test that chin consistently. Wladimr has never fought a guy who could box on his toes with the jab, circle around him using angles and quickly move in with combinations and get back out. That was Ali's game at his peak. Wladimir's last opponent just stood there and tried to block with absolutely no movement. He just stood there, blocked and still went 12 rounds before getting knocked out. Prime Ali is not going to stand right in front of Wladimir, block and throw no punches. He's going to be on his toes and use angles to get in position to throw his combinations and get back out. It aint like Wladimir is quick on his feet now. Ali would get off his combos and get back out and remember its not like Ali was just 5-11 or 6-0 he was 6-3 with a long reach as well.

Not true bro. Im on record saying Roy Jones would beat Sugar Ray Robinson. I dont hold these fighters up to some unbeatavle level. Because all those guys got their ass beat before. I just look at ther style match up. i know. i was only referring to you and the thread about pacquiao. the rest of my post was just how i feel a lot of boxing fans see things, not necessarily anything else you said.

I personally think Ali's style is all wrong for either Klit...I think he would give either one a boxing lesson and make them quit...Ali by TKO...

i agree. you name any current boxer against a boxer from the past and instantly you'll be told that the older boxer "destroys" the current boxer. boxers from the 80s and earlier are regarded too highly and held at unfair standards in my opinion. i usually like a lot of what burner posts, but that thread he made about pacquiao against some all-time greats i couldn't fully agree with. i'm not much of a pacquiao fan, but a list of 13 fighters and pacquiao has no chance against even one? they're great fighters, but...that's just how i feel. Not true bro. Im on record saying Roy Jones would beat Sugar Ray Robinson. I dont hold these fighters up to some unbeatavle level. Because all those guys got their ass beat before. I just look at ther style match up.

i didnt mean to say it as heavyweights are better than him. the general point is that are older guys put in a ridiculous league that current boxers will never reach unless they retire themselves i agree. you name any current boxer against a boxer from the past and instantly you'll be told that the older boxer "destroys" the current boxer. boxers from the 80s and earlier are regarded too highly and held at unfair standards in my opinion. i usually like a lot of what burner posts, but that thread he made about pacquiao against some all-time greats i couldn't fully agree with. i'm not much of a pacquiao fan, but a list of 13 fighters and pacquiao has no chance against even one? they're great fighters, but...that's just how i feel.

i didnt mean to say it as heavyweights are better than him. the general point is that are older guys put in a ridiculous league that current boxers will never reach unless they retire themselves