Ali would not have fought this way against Frazier, Louis, Tyson or Holyfield. At least not to the extent that he did against Foreman. He did use it to a certain extent against other fighters when he was way past his prime and fighting Shavers, Young, Norton III etc. He was older and could not use his legs as much as when he was younger.bengulnaci1 wrote:As people have said, after that fight Ali attempt the Rope-the-Dope tactic in several other fights with limited success. Obvious examples are Norton III, Shavers, Frazier III,Young, Lyle aswell others
The reason it work well against Foreman, in my opinion, was the fact Foreman was a fast starter who often loaded up. Ali realised this and pretty much saw ever punch coming, anticipating and bracing himself.
A Frazier, Louis, Tyson or even Holyfield could obviously punch but maybe not with the blunt power Foreman possesed, but their greater accuracy, speed and punching in combination would have certainly troubled the Ali in Kinshasa, moreso than Foreman did, that night.
However, it was not his main strategy. Against a Louis, Tyson, or Holyfield,a 32 year-old Ali would probably mix it up with fighting off the ropes, fighting toe-toe in the center of the ring, and bouncing around on feet part of the time. A prime Ali would be bouncing around most of the time against anyone.