What if Ali hadn't had the 3 1/2 year layoff???

[4Corners]

What do you think his career would have ended up like??? Would he have ever been beaten??? Would he have lost to Joe Frazier at all??? Would his skills have fallen as fast as they did in the mid-1970's??? How long do you think his prime would have actually lasted???

I really would like to hear all answers. Ali's prime is almost universally looked at as 1964-1967, than he had the layoff/exile. I am pretty sure no one thinks Ali was still prime when he returned in 1970 and 1971. His speed had slown greatly, and he had lost a great deal of his stamina. He gained a bit of punching power arguably, but his reflexes dropped significantly and he was forced to take on much more punishment. He also couldn't throw as many lengthy and effective combinations. If Ali was forced into the layoff/exile, he and Frazier would most likely have met in 1969. Ali would have been 27, in his peak physically, and Frazier would be in his peak too. Ali would not have lost his speed and reflexes, simply because he would have continued fighting during those three and a half years. It's an interesting thing to think about.

Watch Ali-Quarry 1, and you can tell the vast difference in Ali in 1970 as opposed to 1967. Don't get me wrong, Ali was still a great fighter post-layoff, but not in his prime anymore. I'd say between 1970-1972, Ali was past his prime but still great. Than, I'd say between 1973-1975, Ali was past his prime but still really good. Between 1976-1977, Ali was way past his prime, but still able to fight and be a decent boxer. After that, he was so far gone it was truly sad. I don't think his skills would have fallen as fast they did if he hadn't missed 3 1/2 years. He could have arguably been in his prime until 1971 or even 1972. He could have been a really good and great fighter until 1977 or maybe even 1978. He wouldn't have taken as much punishment as he did after the layoff, because he would have had his speed and reflexes for more years.

Finally, I can't see Joe Frazier beating a prime Ali. Coming off 3 1/2 years of no boxing, and two so-so warm up fights, Ali still had him 6-6-1 going into the final rounds. Watch round 1 in the Fight of the Century, and I think thats the closest to what Ali-Frazier in 1969 would have been like. Ali by UD.

What do you think Ali's career would have been like if he didn't have to take the 3 1/2 year layoff???

[intoccabile]

What do you think his career would have ended up like??? Would he have ever been beaten??? Would he have lost to Joe Frazier at all??? Would his skills have fallen as fast as they did in the mid-1970's??? How long do you think his prime would have actually lasted???

I really would like to hear all answers. Ali's prime is almost universally looked at as 1964-1967, than he had the layoff/exile. I am pretty sure no one thinks Ali was still prime when he returned in 1970 and 1971. His speed had slown greatly, and he had lost a great deal of his stamina. He gained a bit of punching power arguably, but his reflexes dropped significantly and he was forced to take on much more punishment. He also couldn't throw as many lengthy and effective combinations. If Ali was forced into the layoff/exile, he and Frazier would most likely have met in 1969. Ali would have been 27, in his peak physically, and Frazier would be in his peak too. Ali would not have lost his speed and reflexes, simply because he would have continued fighting during those three and a half years. It's an interesting thing to think about.

Watch Ali-Quarry 1, and you can tell the vast difference in Ali in 1970 as opposed to 1967. Don't get me wrong, Ali was still a great fighter post-layoff, but not in his prime anymore. I'd say between 1970-1972, Ali was past his prime but still great. Than, I'd say between 1973-1975, Ali was past his prime but still really good. Between 1976-1977, Ali was way past his prime, but still able to fight and be a decent boxer. After that, he was so far gone it was truly sad. I don't think his skills would have fallen as fast they did if he hadn't missed 3 1/2 years. He could have arguably been in his prime until 1971 or even 1972. He could have been a really good and great fighter until 1977 or maybe even 1978. He wouldn't have taken as much punishment as he did after the layoff, because he would have had his speed and reflexes for more years.

Finally, I can't see Joe Frazier beating a prime Ali. Coming off 3 1/2 years of no boxing, and two so-so warm up fights, Ali still had him 6-6-1 going into the final rounds. Watch round 1 in the Fight of the Century, and I think thats the closest to what Ali-Frazier in 1969 would have been like. Ali by UD.

What do you think Ali's career would have been like if he didn't have to take the 3 1/2 year layoff???

What if leonard didn't.

[Grinderman]

This belongs in the boxing history section where they worship only black fighters.

[4Corners]

What if leonard didn't.

True. But that was a little different. Ali was forced into exile, Leonard retired multiple times. In round 1 of Ali-Frazier 1, the first minute of that round Ali was moving and jabbing, throwing a few combinations here and there. That's what a prime Ali vs. prime Frazier would have looked like, most likely.

What do you think his career would have been like???

[intoccabile]

True. But that was a little different. Ali was forced into exile, Leonard retired multiple times. In round 1 of Ali-Frazier 1, the first minute of that round Ali was moving and jabbing, throwing a few combinations here and there. That's what a prime Ali vs. prime Frazier would have looked like, most likely.

What do you think his career would have been like???

Honestly I think it would have been the same. I don't think the years took too much off as he maintained the exact same weight and everything else (as proven AFTER the first frazier bout). Obviously that was four years that frazier was able to be active and get better as well, but I don't think they would have shared a ring within that 3 in a half years anyhow. I dont look at it as 4 years of inactivity for Ali, but instead 4 years of more experience for Joe.

Everything else IMO remains the same, just in a different year. I bring up Leonard though because had he not retired due to his eye, after already having the incredible resume in such a short span that he had, there is no telling who else in the division he would have clashed with to cement his legacy even more.

Ali, though absent a while, still fought the fights he would have fought had he not gone away. I think only the Norton outcome gets changed, as I don't believe norton would have beaten Ali 3 years prior to when he did.

[Specialist6]

This belongs in the boxing history section where they worship only black fighters.

is this necessary guy???

[Medved]

Shouldve shipped his ass to nam instead of wasting tax payer money in a prison. Maybe he wouldve became a man instead of a racist. I guess history changes everything and people forget who Muhammed Ali really was, a racist who hated whitey's and everything about the government who decided he didnt like the countries rules and would follow only the ones he liked.

[Canelo Phresh]

Shouldve shipped his ass to nam instead of wasting tax payer money in a prison. Maybe he wouldve became a man instead of a racist. I guess history changes everything and people forget who Muhammed Ali really was, a racist who hated whitey's and everything about the government who decided he didnt like the countries rules and would follow only the ones he liked.

still pissed off about your baby coming out black eh?

[Medved]

still pissed off about your baby coming out black eh?

Did I say anything wrong about him as a person?

[Porter's Dad]

Shouldve shipped his ass to nam instead of wasting tax payer money in a prison. Maybe he wouldve became a man instead of a racist. I guess history changes everything and people forget who Muhammed Ali really was, a racist who hated whitey's and everything about the government who decided he didnt like the countries rules and would follow only the ones he liked.

You're one to talk about people being racist. I half-expected you to bust out the ebonics again.

Was Ali racist? No; he said some things which he shouldn't have, and has accepted was wrong. But then, you try living in a country where you are treated like **** by a race of people who deem you inferior, and see how you feel. See if you can be so accepting.

****ing troll.