BoxRec

After Ali regained his title for the 3rd time, by a hard fought battle against his nemisis Neon Leon Spinks he retired for nearly two years but came back and as history goes down he lost to Larry Holmes by tko in the 11th. What is a little known fact is that Ali was supposed to fight, originally, WBA Heavyweight Champion 'Big' John Tate. But after Ali was hurt in training and had to have stitches, Tate was KO'd by Weaver in 15. Then Weaver was beaten by Holmes, thus leaving Ali to only fight Holmes.
My question is, what would happen if Ali did fight Tate? As bad as shape as he was in, I dont know whether or not the Greatest could have beaten a powerful man like Tate. But on the other hand, Tate fought such bad competition and wasn't all that skilled of a fighter.

Would ALi have won his title a 4th time? Or would Tate have pulled off a massive upset to a man who had more talent in his little finger than Big John had in his whole body?

are you robsteth?

tate w15 ali

tate, lacks skill but too big and strong for a faded and old ali.

Overhand is right although Tate may have won by TKO. Ali was a completely shot fighter by that time.

Tate wouldn't have held off.......good job he fought Holmes really....

HOW WOULD ALI HAVE DONE HAD HE NOT HAD THOSE SHOTS IN HIM MISTAKENLY (FOR THYROID TROUBLE...)

pHIL

much better. he fought better int he berbick fight remember. those thyroid tablets made ali look and feel very very bad, and he knew beforehand he wasnt right.

Tate would decision Ali over 15.Ali's skill was gone.

'Big' John Tate was a good, big strong Heavyweight whom like many others ruined his career by using drugs.

Tate could be KO'd as he was as a professional and as an amateur but it took a good shot to keep Big John down. The shot Ali didn't have that sort of power (if ever).

Tate at this stage would be too Young, strong and have too much stamina for the ghost of Ali.

Tate PTS15.

Ali was suffering from Parkinson's Syndrome in 1980.

He would have lost to Tate as well; he was totally shot.

Yeah it was all over for the great one by then. However I would not be surprised at all if he was odds on to win at the betting establisments.

Tate vs Cooney or Tate vs Cobb, I'd pay to see those fights.