Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum, who promoted the legendary Muhammad Ali, believes the three-time heavyweight champion may have struggled against the likes of Tyson Fury.
Arum is not sure that Ali, as gifted as he was, would have been able to overcome the size and strength of Fury, who is also very quick for his massive frame.
Arum and Frank Warren are the co-promoters of Fury.
Back in February, Fury became a two-time heavyweight champion when he dropped Deontay Wilder twice for a seven round stoppage to capture the WBC world title. A trilogy fight between Fury and Wilder is targeted for the fall.
The 88-year-old promoter has often compared Fury and Ali – because of their charismatic personalities and antics.
“I look at Ali, I look at Foreman when he won the title when he was 45, I look at Fury. How would Ali have done with Fury? That’s a question I wrestle with,” Arum told Sky Sports.
“The Ali before the three-and-a-half years out was absolutely superb. Nobody could touch him, he was so fast. Ali was 6’3 and the guys he fought were about the same size. How would he do against a 6’9 guy who is an incredible boxer with great footwork?”
“I grew up with basketball in New York and the center was barely 6’6. A guard was 5’10. Now LeBron James is as quick as any guard but he’s 6’10. Imagine LeBron playing against the small guys of my era. It would be a joke, he would score 60 points every game.
“I can’t see Ali competing with a 6’9 guy like Fury. We had big guys in the old days but they were slow, lumbering. They were jokes who couldn’t fight, they were just big. It’s all changing. Look at Fury, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder. They are huge guys. But maybe if Ali was in this era he would be 6’6 instead of 6’3 because of the nutrition. Everything has changed.”
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