How would Ali's mind games work on the following:

[Joeyzagz]

Jack Dempsey
Joe Louis
Rocky Marciano
Mike Tyson
Evander Holyfield
Lennox Lewis
Wladimir Klitschko
Vitali Klitschko

Ali had no business beating guys like Sonny Liston or George Foreman, but with his mouth he was able to get them to doubt themselves. Do you think he could defeat any of the above fighters psycologically?

[SBleeder]

Jack Dempsey
Joe Louis
Rocky Marciano
Mike Tyson
Evander Holyfield
Lennox Lewis
Wladimir Klitschko
Vitali Klitschko

Ali had no business beating guys like Sonny Liston or George Foreman, but with his mouth he was able to get them to doubt themselves. Do you think he could defeat any of the above fighters psycologically?

"No business"? Ali was physically a better fighter than Liston and Foreman. Even Ali post-prime was better than prime Foreman. It wasn't his mouth that won those fights.

With that said, I know that Tyson would crap himself against Ali. The rest were mentally strong enough to deal with it.

[Holtol]

I think Ali's mind games helped him against Forman. He taunted him quite a bit during the fight. I think it's part of the reason Forman punched himself out. I don't think it was a big factor in the Liston fights though.

I think he would get on Tyson's nerves I don't know about the other boxer's.

[StarshipTrooper]

"No business"? Ali was physically a better fighter than Liston and Foreman. Even Ali post-prime was better than prime Foreman. It wasn't his mouth that won those fights.

Beat me to it :grin9: Speed > power.

Poet

[Joeyzagz]

"No business"? Ali was physically a better fighter than Liston and Foreman. Even Ali post-prime was better than prime Foreman. It wasn't his mouth that won those fights.

With that said, I know that Tyson would crap himself against Ali. The rest were mentally strong enough to deal with it.

Take away Ali's Mouth
Take away the murderous black NOI in Ali's corner
Take away Listons ******** debt.


Liston wins both fights by brutal 4 round ko.

[MOTHER DUCKER]

I think it would work on Tyson and Wlad..

[StarshipTrooper]

Take away Ali's Mouth
Take away the murderous black NOI in Ali's corner
Take away Listons ******** debt.

Liston wins both fights by brutal 4 round ko.

Oh for the love of God :rolleyes9: What are you smoking ffs? BTW, I KNOW were this is leading and NO you aren't going to raise Lennox's standing by a lame attempt to tear down Ali's :rolleyes9:

Poet

[NChristo]

Take away Ali's Mouth
Take away the murderous black NOI in Ali's corner
Take away Listons ******** debt.


Liston wins both fights by brutal 4 round ko.

Plus Liston never trained at all for the 1st fight.

But even still styles make fights and anyone could see that Ali's style was all wrong for Liston. I'd favor him to get the better of Liston in every fight they were to have, to say that Ali had no business in the ring with him is just silly.

[Sugarj]

I'm not going to get drawn into who wins these matchups, just how Ali might affect the opponents.

Dempsey? Nah, he'd be coming out like a whirlwind regardless of whether Ali tried mind games or not.

Joe Louis? I dont think Ali would have too much success with mind games here either, Louis would surely fall into the patient stalker role regardless. I think Ali's comments and teasing of his stutter or his flat footedness (for example) would just motivate him to train harder. Joe would certainly get called an Uncle Tom by Ali for his army work, surely this would just fuel the Louis fire. Joe was always controlled whether he started fast or not, I cant imagine Ali taking Louis off his game.

Rocky Marciano? Again, I cant imagine Rocky being anything other than the relentless, tenacious, determined warrior that he was.

Mike Tyson? I think this could very possibly affect Tyson's performance. I think Ali would go to work on Tyson prior to the fight, he would surely mock his lisp, his natural temper, his upbringing. With prime Tyson I'd expect this to motivate him to a very fast, ferocious start (which could be perilous for Ali early on, early rounds prime Tyson was a serious handful) BUT it would surely also exacerbate Tyson's inevitable mid/late rounds sag. This coupled with Ali's clinching, whispering in his ear etc could possibly lead to Tyson blowing himself out or resorting to dirty tactics.

Evander Holyfield? Nah, I cant think of much of an angle that Ali could find to taunt Holyfield.......and like Marciano, I cant see Holyfield being anything other than the warrior that he is.

Lennox Lewis? I dont know, I dont doubt that Ali could get under Lennox's skin......Mummy's boy comments and Lewis's lack of otherwise female company would be angles that Ali would surely plunder. But it was hard to get Lewis out of his chess playing. The fights where Lewis was really motivated he was very impressive (Ruddock, Golota, Grant). Ali may be able to bring a fast start out of Lewis, but otherwise.....I think Lewis's naturally laid back nature would ensure a typical Lewis performance.

Vitali? Its hard to think of many angles that Ali could mock Vitali about......his greying temples perhaps, his occasional clumsiness? Ha ha Vitali seems to have a bit of a short fuse and I do think that Ali could provoke a fast start from Vitali that would surely leave him open to counters. But Vitali is a solid pro, I dont think mind games would affect him too much.

Wladimir? Not a hope! He'd be fighting a super cautious fight whatever Ali said to him before or during the match. Even Manny Steward jumping up and down hopping mad at Wlad at the break barely motivates Wlad from his safety first plan.

[Dan Vida]

You'd have to be a pretty big idiot not to realize that this is a bait thread.



I'll leave it at that and leave the troll hungry.