Could Muhammad Ali go 20 rounds if he trained for it?

[butterfly1964]

I was on East Side Forums, and many people there thought that Ali was incapable of going a full 20 rounds, just because he never fought that long before. They had everyone from Jim Jeffries to even contender Tom Sharkey beating him in a 20 round fight saying that after 15, Ali would be dead tired and knocked out. My question to you is this. If Ali had proper time to train knowing that it is a 20 round fight, could he condition himself for a 20 round fight and go a full twenty rounds? I think he could. Even when way past his prime he went 15 rounds with ease. In the Ernie Terrel fight IMO, he could have easily gone 25-30 rounds, as he wasn't even tired after the fight was over, or so it seemed. If Ali ran a few more miles of roadwork a day and sparred a few more rounds a day then he would pull it off. A 209lb. Ali could easily go 20 rounds.

What do you think?

[porlie]

Yeah he definitley could go 20 rounds if he trained for it, alot of boxers could if they trained for it. Its as much about mental conditioning as Physical conditioning.

[Southpaw Stinger]

Sure he could if he trained for it and paced himself. There was a lot of clinching going on in those times, so I think it was just as hard, if not harder going 15 with Frazier than going 20 in an average fight.

[apollack]

Ali and 20 rounds

I think not only could Ali have gone 20 rounds, I think he could have fought indefinitely if need be. I think Muhammad would remain on his feet and go as long as it took him to win. No one knew how to pace himself and survive better. No one could withstand punishment any better either.

[McGrain]

Whilst no fighter could fight "indefinitely", Ali could go for 20 rounds no bother. Unless he was KO'd or beaten down before that of course!

What you have to take into account is pressure. Could he go for 20 rounds under Frazier type pressure? No. Could Frazier go for 20 rounds under Ali type pressure? No.

[Sharkey]

I was on East Side Forums

Ah, poor kid.

[bengidaro]

Whilst no fighter could fight "indefinitely", Ali could go for 20 rounds no bother. Unless he was KO'd or beaten down before that of course!

What you have to take into account is pressure. Could he go for 20 rounds under Frazier type pressure? No. Could Frazier go for 20 rounds under Ali type pressure? No.

I agree you have to take into account many things like opponent, pace, location (doesn't seem important but its huge) and a number of other things. There are so many factors that go into a fight that its hard to say. I think he could go 20 with most opponents not all but most. With his determination and intense training it is definitely possible.

[BKM-]

Depends on who he fights. I don't know if he could slug for 20 rounds, but an average fight 20 rounds, no problemo for Ali.

[hemichromis]

I was on East Side Forums, and many people there thought that Ali was incapable of going a full 20 rounds, just because he never fought that long before. They had everyone from Jim Jeffries to even contender Tom Sharkey beating him in a 20 round fight saying that after 15, Ali would be dead tired and knocked out. My question to you is this. If Ali had proper time to train knowing that it is a 20 round fight, could he condition himself for a 20 round fight and go a full twenty rounds? I think he could. Even when way past his prime he went 15 rounds with ease. In the Ernie Terrel fight IMO, he could have easily gone 25-30 rounds, as he wasn't even tired after the fight was over, or so it seemed. If Ali ran a few more miles of roadwork a day and sparred a few more rounds a day then he would pull it off. A 209lb. Ali could easily go 20 rounds.

What do you think?

at his prime he definately could

if his first fight against frazier was 20 rounds i believe he may have suffered his first knockout, ali was weakening and frazier was just getting stronger.

[msagrain]

yes becasue more than likely he would train harder than his challenger