Wlad probably would've beaten Ali

[uppercut510]

This is one of those "I'm Bored I Need Some Attention" Threads

lol I didn't even argue it

[sunny31]

The size argument makes no sense to me because some of Wlad's toughest opponents were Ali's size. So why exactly would Ali have so much trouble with Wlad's size when way worse fighters than him were able to give Wlad real trouble?

Ali wasn't a small guy. He weighed a lot less than most today, but he was a tall fighter with good reach.

If you spent time I actually answered this in my original post.

Ali was an 'outside' fighter, he fought long and at range, that was his comfort zone. He fought on the pull, with his head back and his weight shifted slightly back. Stylistically Wlad fights in a similar posture, but just not as many wrinkles. He did however have a the size advantage as we discussed, and extremely fast feet for a big man, especially when moving backwards. Stylistically a blind man can see that Wlad would create Ali problems, he has an ATG jab and he is extremely defensively alert, to the point he almost looks fearful in the ring.

Now Ali had faster feet, and superior skills, but is he fast enough to close the distance on a regular basis?...I'm not sure, I think after boxing the first 6-7 rounds with mixed results, he would realise it's not a winning strategy, he would need to go on the offensive, like Ray Leonard did with Hearns, and even though that fight doesn't come naturally to him I think he could pull it off, he has that dog in him. That in my opinion is how he wins the fight down the stretch.

[KingHippo]

I don't even like Wlad and I love Ali, but come on guys.

[Boxing Goat]

Wlad may be a boring fighter but one thing I can say is that he is a boxing magician. He has great balance, power, footwork, jab, and right hand, plus he is a big HW. Ali wouldn't be able to get past the jab of a guy like Wlad and if he did, that right hand would catch him Everytime. Ali was the more talented, gifted, fighter of the two but he was not a better technical boxer than Wlad. Thoughts?

I don't know who would have won in that mythical matchup but Wlad was bigger, had way more power, was very technical and Ali wasn't blessed with the kind of power that would hurt Wlad with one shot.

That said, barring cuts, Vitali would have beaten Ali pretty handily in my opinion.

[Cutthroat]

Ali was too undersized, he probably beats the young version of Wlad though. Wlad at around 40 is peak Wlad and beat Ali in a 9-3 type of fight.

You have 3 version of Wlad.
1. Pre-Steward Wlad that was getting KO'd by journeyman
2. Steward Wlad-Boring, conservative, very low work rate that went undefeated vs better opponents than he lost to
3. Banks Wlad, Wlad found his balance between offense/defense, started throwing much more, trying new things.


Wlad is a unique fighter as he got away with cheating, A LOT, it's very hard to judge how good he actually was because of it.

[Cutthroat]

This is how I see it as well. It would be Ali-Foreman again only it wouldn't happen till the late rounds. Wlad would give him trouble for sure, but he'd run out of gas and get stopped in my opinion.

But if Ali-Foreman hadn't fought in the conditions they fought in I have no doubt Foreman would've blasted him out. 90 degree weather with 90% humidity, that zaps your energy right quick, the more active fighter is going to be punished and Foreman was aggressive that match. Ali knew it, played right into his hands, he was a master of manipulation and tactics.

Wlad-Ali would be taking place in some air conditioned arena.

[GhostofDempsey]

I'm no fan of Ali, I think he is highly overrated, but not on his worst day would Wlad the robot beat him.

[just the facts]

And also, Oleksandr Usyk is superior to Muhammad Ali and they're about the same size (Usyk is probably slightly bigger). Usyk looks more athletic, more versatile and just the overall superior boxer.

Mr. ******ity, thank you. I’was having a bad day and néeded a good laugh and you provided it.

Usyk a better fighter than Ali, that’s funny no matter who you are.

[just the facts]

Best version of Ali easily handles any version of Wladimir. I respect both fighters but the difference in speed and coordination is too great for Wlad to overcome. Ali by lopsided decision or late stoppage.

[Simurgh]

Wlad is a unique fighter as he got away with cheating, A LOT, it's very hard to judge how good he actually was because of it.

I hope you have the same standard for Ward in terms of “cheating”...

That being said, I don’t think that Banks Wlad was the prime Wlad - he was visibly slower, less defensively sound but arguably more agressive and exciting.

However I choose Wlad that beat Haye to be close to prime Wlad and that version beats any other version IMO.

Btw, I think that the prime Ali would beat him, but same goes for Lennox for example. I think prime Ali was just something special with his speed, reflexes, accuracy and incredible stamina. I can’t see these big guys landing too many on him + even if they land I don’t see Ali with his iron chin being KOed.