Seeing as this is a boxing board..
I'd just like to say, even though I rate Joe Louis and Larry Holmes ahead of him, that Muhammad Ali was a master of timing and distance both offensively and defensively, and certainly wasn't just a 'runner' - a great boxer isn't a track star; he's a master of deception. He'll make things appear one way, and then will show you something different. A boxer sets traps, a runner avoids contact, and hopes that the frustrated opponent will make a mistake and leave himself open for something. Ali, it must be noted, did far more than dance and run. He was a master of timing and distance. Besides Ali, not many fighters had his natural ability to get away with his unorthodox tactics. He was often able to slip punches with the slightest movement of his head: a grandmaster of judging timing and distance.
JEFF
(Oh and Happy Birthday to the greatest man to ever box (hands down))
in my eyes ali did alot of things holmes couldn't do but holmes could do nothing ali couldn't do
louis was great but he would have lost to ali and possibly holmes as well
Seeing as this is a boxing board..
I'd just like to say, even though I rate Joe Louis and Larry Holmes ahead of him, that Muhammad Ali was a master of timing and distance both offensively and defensively, and certainly wasn't just a 'runner' - a great boxer isn't a track star; he's a master of deception. He'll make things appear one way, and then will show you something different. A boxer sets traps, a runner avoids contact, and hopes that the frustrated opponent will make a mistake and leave himself open for something. Ali, it must be noted, did far more than dance and run. He was a master of timing and distance. Besides Ali, not many fighters had his natural ability to get away with his unorthodox tactics. He was often able to slip punches with the slightest movement of his head: a grandmaster of judging timing and distance.
JEFF
(Oh and Happy Birthday to the greatest man to ever box (hands down))
Very well said!Happy birthday Muhammad....
Its like people forget Ali didnt box for 3 1/2 years in his prime he KOs Zora Folley in 7 and becuz of BS circumstances has to sit out 3 years comeback to fight great white hopes like quarry and bonavena and then Frazier, had he not left for 3 years of his prime and stayed active he would defintly be the greatest shit he is the greatest but would have had 3-5 more victories over good fighters including frazier in that time frame on his rec!
Louis was nice but the best ever i cant say that, and had holmes or louis met Ali in his prime that be destroyed
Quarry and Bonavena where much more than Great White Hopes. Don't forget Quarry outboxed the Shit out of Ron Lyle and Kayoed Earnie Shavers in one round. Bonavena gave Frazier Hell knocking him down a few times in a loss. Those two guys are just a couple of the really good opposition that Ali faced. I do agreee with you that Ali was far Superior to Holmes based on competetiion alone. Quarry>Scott Ledoux, Ron Lyle>Renaldo Snipes. Holmes fought in a shit era and it cannot be overlooked.
Its like people forget Ali didnt box for 3 1/2 years in his prime he KOs Zora Folley in 7 and becuz of BS circumstances has to sit out 3 years comeback to fight great white hopes like quarry and bonavena and then Frazier, had he not left for 3 years of his prime and stayed active he would defintly be the greatest shit he is the greatest but would have had 3-5 more victories over good fighters including frazier in that time frame on his rec!
Louis was nice but the best ever i cant say that, and had holmes or louis met Ali in his prime they would have been destroyed
i used to think holmes was better then ali . but he wasnt as fast or couldnt move like ali or throw combos like ali.. we never saw he best ali 67-70 ..and with out parkinsons we dont know ow long he would of lasted ..you could tell it was already taking its toll
would anyone think im retarted if i ever got an ALI tattoo? i have no tattoos period and i probably never will but once and if i break that by getting some things close to me like family related tattoos first, i may consider a nice portrait of ali.
I think Louis was more talented but I base Ali ahead of him and Holmes based on their opposition they faced. Quarry was better than most of the fighters Joe fought during his reign. And Holmes competition was laughable (full of the 80s cokeheads). So Ali gets the nod as the greatest in my opinion. Otherwise a good description on Alis style.