When did Ali's illness begin to affect him?

[BattlingNelson]

They were Thyroid pills that a doctor prescribed to him the week of the fight, he said before he got the pills, he was running 5-7 miles a day and was set a record for his exercise repetitions, after he got the pills, he said he couldn't run a mile and was very lethargic when training. One of Ali's cornerman said that Ali wasn't sweating during the fight.

Thanks for that and you're right. I can remember also that Ali weighed in extremely light for that fight at least well below expectations.

[LondonRingRules]

Heres the question though... what was the last fight Ali fought at 100% natural health?

** It's pretty obvious he was never the same after the Foreman fight.

Truth be told, you could make a case that he was never the same after the second rd of first Norton fight. He really had no business fighting Foreman, but conditions came together perfectly for him and against Foreman in Zaire. Even so, he hit the deck seconds after the ref waved off the fight it was that close for him.

Go look at the Wepner fight afterwards and try and make a case to somebody who is just starting to watch boxing that's a HOFer at work. Could barely break the breeze after these fights, becoming more dependent on his new legendary status and the gifts by refs and judges. Specifically a 32% KO ratio from Norton 1 forward.

His best fights as far as having the best combination of talent/skills against best level competition are Terrell and Frazier 1. 1972 was probably his best year ever as far with 6 first rate wins over first rate comp. Then 73 came and he didn't look very good against Bugner, Norton or even Lubbers.

[Sugarj]

Ali had every right to face Foreman, He'd just reversed the decisions to Norton and Frazier ( although the Norton fight was close ) and still was beat to the title shot by Norton, Ali should have met Foreman in 1973.

It is true 1972 was a good year for Ali, I'd favour the 72 Ali over the 71 Frazier........Ali didn't have his legs for the first fight with Frazier but he was nearly as swift as his peak a year and a half later. Check out the second Jerry Quarry match in 72, Ali was awesome!

I would say that Ali was still pretty good in 74, the second Frazier fight...although full of clinches was full of dancing and fast multipunch combinations by Ali, certainly one of his best performances of the 70s.

I will always wonder what the result of the Foreman fight would be if it wasn't staged in Africa, there is something odd about Foreman that night, I like to think that Ali would have taken a decision....rather like Young did by stealing later rounds, but the KO result does still strike me as odd because no one else managed it with George and Ali was one of the lighter punching Heavyweight champions. Foreman looked so tired, so early that night!

[BKM-]

Ali had every right to face Foreman, He'd just reversed the decisions to Norton and Frazier ( although the Norton fight was close ) and still was beat to the title shot by Norton, Ali should have met Foreman in 1973.

It is true 1972 was a good year for Ali, I'd favour the 72 Ali over the 71 Frazier........Ali didn't have his legs for the first fight with Frazier but he was nearly as swift as his peak a year and a half later. Check out the second Jerry Quarry match in 72, Ali was awesome!

I would say that Ali was still pretty good in 74, the second Frazier fight...although full of clinches was full of dancing and fast multipunch combinations by Ali, certainly one of his best performances of the 70s.

I will always wonder what the result of the Foreman fight would be if it wasn't staged in Africa, there is something odd about Foreman that night, I like to think that Ali would have taken a decision....rather like Young did by stealing later rounds, but the KO result does still strike me as odd because no one else managed it with George and Ali was one of the lighter punching Heavyweight champions. Foreman looked so tired, so early that night!

It's all a credit to Ali, really. It was what it was. Foreman punched himself out, Ali put together a great combo that hit George flush on the chin. I really don't like any other theory about it.