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Muhammad Ali was a game-changing phenom and would become a game-changing phenom yet again in the new era. He would modify his style accordingly. Yet this era would still affect the way he looks somewhat as he adapts to the environment he's in.
This is the era of the huge heavyweights. 2010's+ are around 6'4-6'5' weighing 240lbs. Their approach to boxing:
- outboxing more dominant
- Infighting in bursts only
- combinations in short bursts
- Strong reliance on the jab
- Steeper fight against their stamina in latter part of the fight
The average height in America increased in the last 50 years, it's possible that Muhammad Ali would've been 6'4 in this era (1 inch taller).
12 round fights = less stamina required, less marathon-esque stamina training. They prefer carrying extra muscle mass than having the greatest stamina & being like modern day Cruiserweights on fight night (around 220lbs) with more stamina.
In the heavyweight modern era, they are simply poorly trained to go 12 rounds. The Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko Hufflepuff show is great evidence of this. It's you vs your gas tank.
I believe he will remain lighter than the big Heavyweights. His speed, stamina and reflexes were a part of what made him so great. If you're fighting men as big as Izu Ugonnoh, Joshua, Klitschko, Parker, Wilder, you will aim to reduce attrition by being bigger to absorb punches better, too in order to have longevity at Heavyweight.
Yet, I think he will train himself to have a higher frequency of powerful, mass exerting, explosive spurts in his style (kind of like David Haye at Cruiserweight EDIT: I'm not saying he's going to have a similar style to Haye lol, it's just powerful explosiveness). This being the case, he will have notable muscle more than he did in his career. Yet, it won't be too much so that it would hinder his movement too much.
His stamina will remain significantly better than the bigger opponents. Against the same size opponents who have similar speed, he will simply be better at outboxing them, and they won't have the size to trouble him. Someone like an old time Joe Frazier will simply be swallowed up by a modern day Ali.
Thus, Ali would look bigger than this in his prime:
https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/s...y-sonny-liston-001314315-single-image-cut.jpg
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f4...Y/USATODAY/2013/04/22/xxx-ap621115078-4_3.jpg
I therefore contend that a modern Muhammad Ali would be 6'4, 230-235lbs, ripped. He was 224lbs when he beat Frazier, Lyle and Foreman. He would have more muscle on his frame and would safely accommodate it.
He is a superior mover, simply better at outpointing and would set up more active explosive combinations (thus making him more aggressive, particularly against outboxers) - he would have to make this a bigger part of his game, will have the strength to handle himself on the inside and not be walked through.
This thread comes as a backdrop of comments from people saying 'Joshua beats Ali' before the Takam fight. Takam is a big dude, but he was 6'1, 235lbs against Joshua. He gave Joshua problems. People woke up from their dream and realized a prime Ali from the 70's would've kicked his ass.
This is the era of the huge heavyweights. 2010's+ are around 6'4-6'5' weighing 240lbs. Their approach to boxing:
- outboxing more dominant
- Infighting in bursts only
- combinations in short bursts
- Strong reliance on the jab
- Steeper fight against their stamina in latter part of the fight
The average height in America increased in the last 50 years, it's possible that Muhammad Ali would've been 6'4 in this era (1 inch taller).
12 round fights = less stamina required, less marathon-esque stamina training. They prefer carrying extra muscle mass than having the greatest stamina & being like modern day Cruiserweights on fight night (around 220lbs) with more stamina.
In the heavyweight modern era, they are simply poorly trained to go 12 rounds. The Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko Hufflepuff show is great evidence of this. It's you vs your gas tank.
I believe he will remain lighter than the big Heavyweights. His speed, stamina and reflexes were a part of what made him so great. If you're fighting men as big as Izu Ugonnoh, Joshua, Klitschko, Parker, Wilder, you will aim to reduce attrition by being bigger to absorb punches better, too in order to have longevity at Heavyweight.
Yet, I think he will train himself to have a higher frequency of powerful, mass exerting, explosive spurts in his style (kind of like David Haye at Cruiserweight EDIT: I'm not saying he's going to have a similar style to Haye lol, it's just powerful explosiveness). This being the case, he will have notable muscle more than he did in his career. Yet, it won't be too much so that it would hinder his movement too much.
His stamina will remain significantly better than the bigger opponents. Against the same size opponents who have similar speed, he will simply be better at outboxing them, and they won't have the size to trouble him. Someone like an old time Joe Frazier will simply be swallowed up by a modern day Ali.
Thus, Ali would look bigger than this in his prime:
https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/s...y-sonny-liston-001314315-single-image-cut.jpg
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f4...Y/USATODAY/2013/04/22/xxx-ap621115078-4_3.jpg
I therefore contend that a modern Muhammad Ali would be 6'4, 230-235lbs, ripped. He was 224lbs when he beat Frazier, Lyle and Foreman. He would have more muscle on his frame and would safely accommodate it.
He is a superior mover, simply better at outpointing and would set up more active explosive combinations (thus making him more aggressive, particularly against outboxers) - he would have to make this a bigger part of his game, will have the strength to handle himself on the inside and not be walked through.
This thread comes as a backdrop of comments from people saying 'Joshua beats Ali' before the Takam fight. Takam is a big dude, but he was 6'1, 235lbs against Joshua. He gave Joshua problems. People woke up from their dream and realized a prime Ali from the 70's would've kicked his ass.
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