By Thomas Allred: Yup, here’s another one of those what if match-ups. Arguing about if a certain fighter from one era could take another has been going on as long as boxing has had a history. I’m sure the bare knuckle guys thought their favorite fighters could beat the boxers at the dawn of the modern era. Talk to any old timer and they will say Sugar Ray Robinson could beat any man alive today, and they might be right on that one. Tyson fans swear that the young Tyson could have beaten up on Rocky Marciano. It goes on and on. The beauty of the argument is that their really is no way to decide for sure. My guy can always beat your guy is the start and end of each of these arguments. In that vain, let’s look at Vitali Klitschko against Muhammad Ali.

Ali was an Olympic Light Heavyweight Gold medalist with an amazing amateur record of 100 wins and 5 losses. Remember this was during a time in American history when it meant something to be an amateur champion. Nowadays, most of the big talented guys go into sports with a higher chance of a payout in the pro ranks. Klitschko was a kick boxing champion in the amateur ranks, as well as a champion boxer. He also had an amazing record of 195-15 with 80 knockouts. For pure boxing pedigree, I have to give the edge to Ali.

As a professional Ali was 56-5, with 37 knockouts. He fought all of the great Heavyweights of his era. Liston, Frazier, Norton, and Foreman to name a few. He was involved in some of the greatest fights in boxing history. He had an amazing chin, and a great jab. Most people remember him for the trash talking, and the pretty boy image. However, the man was a warrior in the ring, and proved it in all of his big fights. Klitschko currently has a record of 40 wins and 2 losses. He has 38 wins by knockout. His era has been besmirched due to a real lack of competition. Of course, this is not his fault. If Michael Jordan played in a rec. league, would he still be the best player of all time? Of course. Klitschko can jab and hit with the best Heavyweights in history. The only time he has fought a hall of fame guy, in Lennox Lewis, he was stopped due to cuts. That would have been a great fight to see finished. Because it wasn’t, I don’t see Klitschko ever have a career defining fight. Ali had a few of them. In quality of opponents, there is no way a reasonable person could not give this to Ali in a landslide. (Maybe Dave Lahr could, but he doesn’t seem all that reasonable.)

In quickness and pure boxing ability, you have to give it to Ali. He was a lightweight boxer in a Heavyweight body. I already mentioned he could take a punch. Klitschko surely can deliver one. The problem I see in this match-up is could Klitschko ever get close enough or have the footwork to bother Ali? In my humble opinion, I have to say probably not. Klitschko would have a punchers chance, but so did some pretty hard hitters in Foreman, Frazier, Norton, and Shavers and they didn’t get the knockout. A prime Ali beats an in his prime Klitschko and his brother everyday and twice on Sunday.