MUHAMMAD ALI would have struggled to compete with Tyson Fury due to his size, according to the promoter who has worked with them both.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum is currently promoting the Gypsy King in the US.
Muhammad Ali would struggle to overcome Tyson Fury due to the latter’s size advantage, says a promoter who has worked with both fighters
Promoter Bob Arum now works with the Gypsy King having previously worked with the legendary AliCredit: Getty Images
And he helped the Brit’s path to reclaiming his heavyweight crown by defeating Deontay Wilder for the WBC Title back in February.
The 88-year-old also brought Ali, widely-regarded as the greatest boxer of all-time, to England in 1966 as the legend beat Henry Cooper in a rematch at Arsenal’s Highbury Stadium.
The veteran has plenty of experience working with iconic names from the ring, also promoting George Foreman’s return after a ten-year absence that led to him becoming the oldest-ever heavyweight champ in 1994.
But he believes his current client Fury is perhaps the most-difficult individual to climb between the ropes.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Arum explained: “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.
“The Ali before the three-and-a-half years out was absolutely superb. Nobody could touch him, he was so fast.
“Ali was 6ft 3in and the guys he fought were about the same size. How would he do against a 6ft 9in guy who is an incredible boxer with great footwork?”
Arum continued: “I grew up with basketball in New York and the centre was barely 6ft 6in. A guard was 5ft10in.
“Now LeBron James is as quick as any guard but he’s 6ft 10in. 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 6ft 9in 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 6ft 6in instead of 6ft3in because of the nutrition. Everything has changed.”
Ali was] born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. and became a worldwide star away from the ring due to being an activist and philanthropist as well as his exploits in boxing.
He was nicknamed “The Greatest”, and is widely acknowledged as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century.
Fury has also become a role model away from the ring due to his battles with mental health issues.
And his epic journey back from the depths of depression and ballooning to 28st was completed when he outclassed Wilder to take the title just over two months ago.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
