Muhammad Ali vs other heavyweights of the 20th century?

Question

Recently I read a article on ESPN.com that had Muhammad Ali in his prime(around the time of when he destroyed Cleveland Williams in 3 rounds in 1966.) taking on other Heavyweights of the 20th century in their prime. For most parts I agree with espn.com because styles make fights, but hey anything can happen. They picked these five heavyweights and posted the outcome of each fight.

1. Ali vs Dempsey - Ali by decision win

2. Ali vs Louis - Ali by decision win

3. Ali vs Marciano - Ali by decision or late round stoppage due to cuts.

4. Ali vs Tyson - Ali by decision or late round stoppage due to exhaustion.

5. Ali vs Lewis - Lewis by decision

What you think?

Answer 1

i want to see him beat marciano.also tyson.give you even odds on either one.i dont think he could beat the rock or tyson.

Answer 2

yes, i pretty much agree with your assessment, but i believe ali would've stopped tyson by the 10th round, and i don't see lewis going the distance either.

Answer 3

Ali Dempsey would be a mismatch, even if Dempsey could get close enough and land a punch he would be to small and lack the power to hurt the granite chin'd Ali. I see this fight ending within a few rounds or whenever Ali predicted.

Ali Vs Louis - Of it wasn't for Ali's chin and will to win I would give Louis a shot at a counter shot that could put Ali out. But as we know Ali could take the shots Louis landed. Ali would stop Louis late in the fight.

Ali vs Marciano again like Dempsey Marciano is just way too small, he was used to getting hit by other 188 lb fighters and in turn knocking out 188 lb fighters, Ali would smash the jab into Marciano's  face all night and drop in over hand rights at will, Marciano would fold by the late rounds.

Ali Vs Tyson - Tyson would give Ali a hard time early on, his bob n weave, in and out lighting fast uppercuts and hooks would have Ali holding and moving for the first half absorbing the shots Tyson did land with. After 6 or 7 rounds Tyson would most likely get reckless and abandons his jab and bob n weave throwing one big punch at a time and that would be exactly what Ali was waiting for, Ali would start smashing the jab into Tyson, dropping in bombs from all angles possibly stopping Tyson late or taking a decision. Tyson would not be tricked by Ali's head games as Tyson was a pupil of the sport and knew Ali inside out, Ali and DaMatto would watch all the old fights and old clips, Tyson would have none of the Ali mind games.

Lennox would be Ali's toughest test, in this scenario Ali is not the taller man and does not have the reach. Lewis was a big heavyweight who knew how to fight like one. And as Frazier and Norton had Eddie Futch in their corners to work on a game plan to confuse Ali so would Manny Steward help Lewis to figure out Ali's weakness as well which was to parry his jab and punch when he punched.

If Lewis had fought Ali after the 3 year lay off I would pick Lewis to force the ref or Dundee to stop the fight late or batter Ali late in the fight to a unanimous decision. If Norton gave Ali trouble, man you better believe Lewis would be a mammoth of a challenge.

If Lewis fought Ali before his lay off, shortly after Liston, Ali would be to quick and move to well, Lewis wouldn't touch him and Ali would knock out an exhausted Lewis in 9 or 10 rounds.

Another fighter that would give Ali allot of trouble would be Evander Holyfield, I see those two battling to a very close decision and Ali winning the close rounds on his legacy alone putting him over the top.

Answer 4

Heheheh, that's my great uncle! I say he's the greatest boxer evar!!! But he was a bit cocky during his years...

Answer 5

Styles do indeed make fights.  Ali seemed to have more problems with fighters that came at him.  Case in point are Norton, Frazier, and Bonavena.  I can see him beating Dempsey by decision, Louis could go either way as Louis had that tremendous power.  Ali had every advantage vs Marciano but Marciano was so tough on the inside and would have given Ali some problems.  Ali would have frustrated Mike Tyson in my opinion.  The last one vs Lewis, I disagree with.  I believe Ali would have been too fast, too clever, and moved around the ring like nobody Lewis ever faced.  Lewis had a tough fight with Ray Mercer, so imagine the trouble Ali would have given him.  Ali would have outpointed Lewis in my opinion.

Answer 6

Ali wins versus all that you mentioned.

Answer 7

I have always said that Lennox, by sheer size, weight and strength would be one of ALI's toughest opponents.  The fact that he's a BOXER helps.  Lennox would be more effective against other fighters if he did what Manny Steward always tried to get him to do,  GO ALL OUT.  Very few would be able to stop him.  

I see Lennox giving ALI a lot of trouble if  you're talking the post exile ALI.  ALI could still win as he would have to make Lennox extend himself.  ALI had a way of avoiding punches within inches.  Missed punches take a lot more energy than Landed ones.  It could go either way.  I see ALI surviving but he could possibly lose by decision.  Lennox is very underrated.

I don't see Lewis beating ALI-67.  He would have the Skill, Speed, Balance, Intelligence and even the Power to keep Lewis off balance and take him into the late rounds.  Styles make fights.  That's why Holmes, though he would lose a decision to ALI, would beat everyone else ALI could beat but easier.  Lennox and Joe Louis are the only exceptions.  ALI's speed would do him better against these two than Holmes' skills.  Holmes would beat Lennox but ALI would do it easier.

Lewis just wasn't a 15 round fighter.  

ALI by TKO in 14.

Dempsey's overrated and never came close to facing anyone like ALI.  Tunney handled him easily though he was no longer motivated by the time Tunney got to him.  ALI would shut him out on points or stop him late.  I think he would take too much punishment in the middle rounds.  He would have his moments but he wasn't quite as tough as Frazier or Marciano.  He could dish it out probably better than both of them but he didn't take it as well.

ALI by TKO in 14

ALI has it all over Joe Louis.  Louis could clean up on the rest of the division with few possible exceptions.  ALI is just too talented and possess ALL of Joe's weaknesses.  It would be an easier fight than most might think.  Joe goes the distance but loses by a wide margin.

ALI W15

Marciano is one of the Toughest fighters ever.  However he would just be a sitting duck for many of ALI's combinations.  He would have his moments because there would be a break in ALI's pattern for a brief moment.  That's when Rocky would do his work because he never stopped Looking for openings.  

The problem is that ALI was very fast and accurate and busy.  Rocky would sustain too much punishment.  The weight difference isn't a big factor because Rocky is short so he would not need to be too big.  A weight of 202lbs. would help him against most other fighters but a lighter weight would be best against ALI.  

Still it would not be enough.  He might score a knockdown though, to be honest, that's a stretch.  

ALI by TKO in 12.

Tyson is the most powerful fighter on this list.  Lennox has nearly as much power and probably uses it better.  Tyson's main weakness is stamina.  He becomes VERY ordinary after 7 rounds or so.  ALI would have some moments but little trouble taking Tyson in "Deep Water".  That's when he does his work.  

It's a good fight before round 6,  an even better one after round 7 if you're an ALI fan because that's when the fight becomes frighenly one-sides.  ALI's a nice guy but don't let that fool you.  He's NOTORIOUSLY competitive.  

ALI by TKO in 11

Someone mentioned Holyfield.   He's the near-perfect boxer who can give anyone trouble.  However, young ALI is the near-perfect "Anti-Boxer".  He did nearly Everything wrong and succeeded because of his Natural talent.  If anyone can take Evander out of his game it's ALI.  He has some scarey moments but takes a clear one

ALI W-15