OK, got a weird question for boxing fans, particularly Ali fans.

[Rustynaerduwell]

Who would win in an hypothetical match, Muhammad Ali in his "prime", let's say right after beating Liston, or the Ali of later years, say just before heading in to the ring to face Foreman?

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Prime, every time.

[Tomconroy]

2. The young Ali was so quick and so agile at leaning away from

a punch it was literally impossible to hit him. And he had knockout power.
The older Ali was probably a smarter and certainly more experienced fighter, but the Ali of the mid 60s was a boxer beyond compare.

[PSPS]

4. You sure have that right.His long reach and effortless dodging of punches was like watching a ballet

[H2O Man]

13. Ali had the best

range perception in heavyweight history. That's something one is born with. A good trainer might help develop it, and refine the manner it is used in. But Ali was on a much higher level that was unique. And while it was still outstanding in the second-half of his career, it was best when he first had the title. He could hit an opponent with an amazing percentage of his punches -- the Williams fight being the highest -- appear to be in the opponent's range, but not get hit.

[Tomconroy]

14. Hey! How are you?

[H2O Man]

16. Alright, thank you!

I was ill for a few weeks, which was unpleasant. Trips to the ER and follow-up appointments. But I'm feeling pretty good now. I get out and walk the dog daily, and try to go for longer walks each time out.

[Tomconroy]

18. Good. I've had significant medical issues since before

Christmas but they tell me I'm on the road to recovery. Let's hope! Take care. Good to see you writing about boxing!

[Hoyt]

3. Prime. But I saw the Foreman fight on closed circuit. Ali was my hero,

but I really thought he would lose.

He came ready and had Foreman’s number in Zaire. That night, he might have had any fighter’s number. Just brilliant.

For record, Foreman is a good man/person too.

[Dan]

5. Now, that's interesting

I think Ali in his prime would have lost to Foreman, because he wouldn’t have had the experience.

[Hoyt]

6. That's a good point. Foreman was exceptional, he just got outsmarted.

[brush]

10. Nah. Foreman couldn't hit him as his footwork and punch slipping...

ability was so unprecedented that Foreman couldn't catch him to land any significant punches, and Ali's hands were so fast he couldn't miss hitting Foreman with multiple shots then quickly moving out of range.

Remember, the older Ali wore an exhausted Foreman out in the mid rounds in their fight in Africa. I contend that the younger, more elusive Ali would've done that more effectively, and even called the round he'd win in...like he always used to do back then.

[H2O Man]

15. He beat Liston

for the title, in a fight similar in many ways to beating Big George. And he would begin to enter his prime two years later. Of course, the forced 3.5 year "lay off" took what would have been his physical prime.

In most ways, Liston was a smarter fighter than Big George in the first half of his career. But Foreman could do what Liston never learned: how to cut off the ring. However, George was not noted for speed of hand nor foot in the ring. Ali was a master of cutting angles while dancing, and could plant his feet to deliver extraordinarily rapid combinations.

[Garibaldista]

7. 1974 Ali beats 1964 Ali ...

... because he can take everything that '64 lands, all the while continually throwing bombs and sustaining the attack--which Henry Copper couldn't--- so ...ah, forget it! DRAW! STALEMATE!

[Dan]

8. In my opinion 74 Ali loses to 64 Ali

Because the fighting styles. Ali even when young wouldn’t have thrown a lot of punches. And when he did throw down, he tended to hit. So, 74 Ali while smarter, his fighting style was dependent on his opponent wearing out - or rather, punching out. The 74 Ali loses to 64 Ali. Plus, both Alis’ were sharp shooters when it came to hitting the target - no wasted motion in 64 and not enough energy in 74 to avoid the cuts, etc.

[brush]

11. That wasn't the question.

[Dan]

9. My older brother who almost went pro before he decided to join the army

Was so mad, because when Ali fought Frazier the first time (remember, everyone loved Ali) lost, and I had bet on Frazier - he was so pissed. I still remember him asking, how did I know…it was so funny.

[H2O Man]

17. Smokin' Joe was intense

that night. It's funny, my oldest brother who boxed professionally loved Frazier, while my middle brother loved Ali (and spent a good deal of time in some of Ali's training camps). I loved them both. In later years, both brothers did, too. Greatest trilogy in boxing history.

[H2O Man]

12. Ali's best

was when he fought Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams and Ernie Terrell, shortly before his forced 3.5 year retirement. He did fight Zora Folley after these two bouts, but did so because Zora, an aging contender, had never gotten a shot at the title when he was at his best (when Patterson held the title). It is worth noting that after Zora, Ali had agreed to fight Joe Frazier and Oscar Bonavena in ten round fights on the same night, with a 30-minute rest between fights.

The Ali of this time would have beat any heavyweight in history. He was at the peak of his physical and mental skills.