What are some Ali mega fights that were missed due to his suspension?

[MartialMind]

If Ali wasn't suspended for those 3+ years from '67 through '70 what mega or at least big fights could have occurred that didn't?

[The Old LefHook]

Clay/Frazier II.

[QueensburyRules]

- -None! Ali weren't a mega fighter back then...Duh!!!

[markusmod]

If Ali wasn't suspended for those 3+ years from '67 through '70 what mega or at least big fights could have occurred that didn't?

He probably would have fought Frazier sooner.

[cfang]

Looking at the ring ratings for 67-70there's nobody that ali didnt fight later on. So hed have fought them all earlier bonavena, quarry, ellis, frazier

[_Rexy_]

He would have fought guys earlier, in his prime.

[Willie Pep 229]

When you look at The Ring Magazine yearly rankings for 1968-1969 there just doesn't seem to be any exciting match-ups that we missed.

The rankings offer an unfought: Ellis, Quarry, Bonavena, Chuvalo, "Blue" Lewis, and Mac Foster, but Ali would encounter and defeat all upon his return. The others Ali had already defeated (save Frazier).

Only four outliers exist, Leotis Martin, Al Jones, Manuel Ramos* -- none look mega.

The fourth outlier Gregorio Peralta seems the most accomplished having gone 10 rounds twice with a young George Foreman, losing a 10 UD and being stopped in 10 rounds. Maybe he is a good/exciting defense for Ali but I doubt he had a big enough USA following to make the fight 'mega.' Probably a network TV fight, E.g. Richard Dunn.

Oddly the most interesting possibility IMO is an Ali-Liston III go. Liston in '68 was on a 14 fight run, all by KO since the fiasco in Lewiston.

* It is difficult to understand why Ramos was even ranked.

[GhostofDempsey]

None. The same names were still around upon his return. Just worse for wear.

[billeau2]

If Ali wasn't suspended for those 3+ years from '67 through '70 what mega or at least big fights could have occurred that didn't?

When people look at what Ali could do in the ring, much like we do with Roy Jones, or Ray Robinson, they marvel at the pure athletic skills displayed. I believe this is what we missed with the Ali that exists on another time line, one where there was no war in Vietnam... clever thread!

[billeau2]

When you look at The Ring Magazine yearly rankings for 1968-1969 there just doesn't seem to be any exciting match-ups that we missed.

The rankings offer an unfought: Ellis, Quarry, Bonavena, Chuvalo, "Blue" Lewis, and Mac Foster, but Ali would encounter and defeat all upon his return. The others Ali had already defeated (save Frazier).

Only four outliers exist, Leotis Martin, Al Jones, Manuel Ramos* -- none look mega.

The fourth outlier Gregorio Peralta seems the most accomplished having gone 10 rounds twice with a young George Foreman, losing a 10 UD and being stopped in 10 rounds. Maybe he is a good/exciting defense for Ali but I doubt he had a big enough USA following to make the fight 'mega.' Probably a network TV fight, E.g. Richard Dunn.

Oddly the most interesting possibility IMO is an Ali-Liston III go. Liston in '68 was on a 14 fight run, all by KO since the fiasco in Lewiston.

* It is difficult to understand why Ramos was even ranked.

Christ... Imagine Ali fights a better version of Liston, losses and then beats up the rest he eventually beat in spectacular fashion... Lol.