Ali had great foot speed for a heavyweight, yes.
It wasn't just great, it was exceptional. Anyone who can carry over 210 pounds of bodyweight like that has a rare talent.
Footwork is more than just dancing around the ring like a bunny, you know? Muhammad Ali did not have particularly effective footwork..
it was certainly effective against liston and many others
Willie Pep: Now there's a man who knew how to move. Check him out if you can - he could dart in and out all over the place, but wouldn't unless he needed to. Perfect judge of range and distance, feinted with his feet, bouncy, relaxed, poised, balanced.
Joe Louis: Big Joe cut the ring by stepping forward and then drew opponents into his punches by making subtle steps back. By pressing forward, inch by inch he would close the distance on his opponents and then by stepping back Louis would appear vulnerable, but when his opponent's moved in they were setting themselves up for his lethal counter-punches. He was a master of this.
Ricky Hatton: I love the way Hatton steps off to accelerate momentum, I've not seen anybody side-step to load up their punches as swiftly and smoothly as this kid did, and he did it best during two-handed bodypunch combo's or body-head combo's. He gets top marks in balance and agility.
yo how do i get my hands on any willie pep fights
Hatton really was quite cute and technical, I liked the way he'd try to shift his position and step around in order to open an opponent up (because he always looked to get a shot into the pit of the stomach where it slows an opponent down most), he had excellent feet.
Willie Pep: Now there's a man who knew how to move. Check him out if you can - he could dart in and out all over the place, but wouldn't unless he needed to. Perfect judge of range and distance, feinted with his feet, bouncy, relaxed, poised, balanced.
Joe Louis: Big Joe cut the ring by stepping forward and then drew opponents into his punches by making subtle steps back. By pressing forward, inch by inch he would close the distance on his opponents and then by stepping back Louis would appear vulnerable, but when his opponent's moved in they were setting themselves up for his lethal counter-punches. He was a master of this.
Ricky Hatton: I love the way Hatton steps off to accelerate momentum, I've not seen anybody side-step to load up their punches as swiftly and smoothly as this kid did, and he did it best during two-handed bodypunch combo's or body-head combo's. He gets top marks in balance and agility.