fair enough that's what makes comparing fighters from different eras interesting I don't think Ali would of beaten a Prime Holmes, Lewis, Tyson or Evander Handily it would of been very difficult IMO for a prime Ali too contain someone like Lewis..he never faced someone of that size with the power the speed and boxing ring craft, George foreman comes too mind however his poor defence, foot work and hand speed IMO were not on par with a prime Lewis, Tysons ability too quickly close the distance rapid head movement hand speed power arsenal of punches etc would of potentially given Ali a lot more headaches than Joe Frazier and Holmes was pretty much a complete package, and Holyfield was IMO a super charged version of Ken Norton who was a problem at the best of times those 2 fought.
Ali might of beaten them but we will ever know ether way they were all legit heavyweights that @ one time were house hold names that in the last 10 odd years nobody really cares who the champion was or is that's how much heavyweight boxing has nose dived
To each his own, but, think about the fighters Ali beat after he came back.
Frazier, Norton, Foreman, Quarry, Shavers,Lyle. Some very good fighters, some great.
This nearly 10 years after Ali's prime.
Watch video of pre '68 to get a better idea, he also easily beat Quarry who was a top 5 heavy after not fighting for 3 1/2 yrs.
