Most people would say 1964-1967. Some believe he missed his prime years due to being barred from boxing for 3 1/2 years. Is it really possible that Muhammad Ali, arguably the greatest boxer of all time, had no prime? Somehow I don't think it makes sense that Ali's prime ended (or he didnt yet reach it and never would) when he was 25.
And what about his second heavyweight reign? (1974-1978) I doubt he could have gone 4 years as the heavyweight champion of the world completely passed his prime. Whats even more confusing is that the second half of his career (1970-1981) would technically be considered past his prime after his reinstatement in 1970. 11 years is a long time for a fighter to be considered past their best. And Ali was still only 28 when he was allowed to box. That would mean he basically spent the second half of his career, with all his accomplishments (frazier, foreman) past his prime. Would anyone here think that Ali's prime ended after the first time he retired in 1979?
2007-01-11 09:07:23 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Boxing
Great question. I believe that Ali's prime was different from the prime of most boxers. Most boxers' prime is mid twenties, based on physical strength, speed and experience. When Ali's boxing license was taken away from him because of his refusal to be conscripted into the US army in the war against Vietnam, many people believed his prime years were lost. Here's where I think the difference was.
Ali's physical fitness and ability to take punishment actually peaked later i.e. his late twenties. Although he wasn't as fast, these capabilities, combined with his mental maturity, made him a better fighter later.
This was evidenced most by the fact that he beat the most fearsome boxer of the early seventies, George Foreman. He beat him not through physical strength, but through being fitter than ever before, being able to take more punishment than ever before, and by having a more developed mind.
It was for this reason that he regained the heavyweight championship of the world.
2007-01-11 09:25:22 · answer #1 · answered by Chiebukuro 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Muhammad Ali Prime
2016-11-04 06:12:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe Ali's physical prime- we never saw. He was peeking in speed, skill and agility at 25 when he was stripped and made idle for more than 3-1/2 yrs. What person known to man can lay off THIS sport (being at the top of world), come back and reclaim greatness in that same sport almost 4 years later? It's unheard of. We can only as humans assume- what Ali lost in speed, he gained in wisdom (having to watch others from outside the ring) when he wasn't allowed to participate in the sport he loved, yet knowing he was the best of HIS time. I know no other athlete that gave up everything (yet never had hatred for those persecuting him) for their religious beliefs. Not one. Then returns older and still kicks everybody's ***. Most more than once!
2015-09-28 09:28:46 · answer #3 · answered by SER 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was that great and so well rounded. As ringsmart as any fighter ever. That's why it's hard for some to pinpoint exactly when his prime was. I'm going to say that we never saw him in his prime. He was in the process of cleaning out the division when he was stripped of his title and license. This happened at the age of 25! He didn't fight for 3 years and 7 months. He fought Quarry (his first fight back from exile) just 3 months shy of 29. Those would have definitely been his prime years. Angelo Dundee believes this also.
2007-01-11 09:54:03 · answer #4 · answered by Brent 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ail would have ran into the best group of heavyweights ever..... fights a 1969 frazier; tought fight but ali wins....would have not fought holmes.... his hand/foot speed was too much for smaller fighters..... a slow boxer would have had NO CHANCE against ali...only father time and ali could beat ail during this period..... a clowning ali, along with a BIG PUNCHER like shavers, could get lucky....ali would have beaten 2 HEAVIES in the same night! he retires in 1975; after he breaks marciano undefeated streak.....however, HIS LEGACY would not be what it is today if not for being punished for his beliefs and have HIS PRIME YEARS taken away from him....ALI IS THE MOST REVERED MAN ON EARTH! all generations KNOW WHO HE IS, WHAT HE STOOD FOR, AND THE PRICE HE PAID FOR IT...the fights are mere gravy compared to THE IMPACT HE HAD ON LIVES, THEN AND NOW.....UNCONQUERABLE....IN AND OUT OF THE RING.........
2014-08-08 07:42:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Late 1960's middle 1970's was ali's prime
2007-01-11 09:31:26 · answer #6 · answered by tmac19742002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That question is not answerable. We were deprived of those years just as he was. I have watched his fights before and after and it was visible in all his fights after the lay off that he lost some speed of foot. In my mind to possibly answer the question is to say his prime was up until the layoff because 3 years of observing him box is taken away.
2007-01-11 09:20:39 · answer #7 · answered by gman 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
1967 to 1970 would have been his prime years in terms of speed he only got into trouble with Norton and Frazier later in his career when he could not maintain his mobility at crucial periods of the fights he was simply the greatest
2016-03-25 12:04:59 · answer #8 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe he missed his prime. I think he was reaching it in '67.
2007-01-11 14:45:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ALI'S PRIME YRS WERE TAKEN FROM HIM WHEN HE WAS STRIPPED OF HIS TITLE WITHOUT DUE PROCESS BECAUSE HE EXERCISED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO REFUSE INDUCTION INTO THE MILITARY.
2007-01-11 10:22:08 · answer #10 · answered by smitty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋