How Could Ali Have Beaten Wilt?

[Anthony342]

With his fists, that's how Ali beats Wilt.

[The Old LefHook]

He'll need some leg to do it, Tony.

[billeau2]

With his fists, that's how Ali beats Wilt.

[Anthony342]

This is a boxing match, not MMA. Ali would be fine.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Except Ali weren't fine.

In spite of repeated entreaties by Wilt with both being in their physical primes before Ali was stripped, Ali refused to sign the contract.

That was the only time Wilt was happy with his purse.

[billeau2]

This is a boxing match, not MMA. Ali would be fine.

Dose both of em in micrograms make it interesting...I can see it now... Ali stares across and says "Man...is that Wilt a tree? are those branches? meanwhile Wilt is looking cannot find Ali, looks for binoculars.

[OctoberRed]

This is a boxing match, not MMA. Ali would be fine.

Bruce Lee did fine with Kareem.

[The Old LefHook]

Probably the greatest athlete of AT, not just American athlete, either, lads, would have to be Willie Shoemaker. The skill, strength, coordination and concentration needed in his sport make it the number two test of athletic excellence in all of sporting. Wilt considered Willie the greatest athlete in the world. Look it up. Wilt considered auto racing the number one test of an athlete, of course. Look that up, too. Maybe horse racing did not require enough stamina for him--there was no long haul.

For that reason, I have Mario Andretti at #2, following top dog Willie, though I would not kick if someone insisted Mario was #1.

Babe does not make my top 5 list, but would make my top 10.

The top five athletes of all time:

1 Willie Shoemaker
2 Mario Andretti
3 Jim Thorpe
4 Wilt Chamberlain
5 Stan Jonathan
6 Babe Ruth

*Jonathan was the best fighting hockey player ever. He didn't lose. Period.

[Longhaul]

Someday this thread will die hopefully.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Wilt was a true auto aficionado in that to be able to enjoy sport models required one off models from the automaker that were additionally souped up to his specs.

He said he set the then time record for the NYC to LA run. I forget the model he used, but I'd guess it was the 426 Hemi Chrysler that could handle the extra tires, gasoline, personal luggage and emergency tools needed to lessen any down time.

Takes a lot of discipline to drive safely at that level of fatigue, so he may well have obtained a script for amphetamines that were endemic back in the day.

Once you cross the Mississippi back then you had the road to yourself where he could cruise at 120 or so. I think he averaged in the 80s for the whole of the trip.