Appreciating Muhammad Ali

[butterfly1964]

I disagree

How are you going to say Ali had a better defense than most think, not that I can speak for what everyone thinks but Dundee said himself that Ali's defense wasn't good. He said Ali's speed was so key that they developed that and didn't develop his defense. His biggest defense was moving his body back and the Rope-A-Dope.

I don't think Ali had normal punching power, and IMO his best punch was his jab but your entitled to your opinion as well. Looking at his record the only real big name he beat by KO (other then Foreman) was Zora Folley.

Also I never down played Ali not having good stamina, though wasn't Ali the one who used to go around with women before fights (no I'm not thinking of Tyson)......I never said Ali wasn't a good fighter but he entered the ring without being at full potential (example Ken Norton)..

so yea I stick with what I said orginally

I go by what I see, not what I hear, and in a lot of his fights, Ali blocked punches well with his gloves from what I see. And from what I see, in some of his fights he actually held his hands high, depending in the quality of the opponent, (Folley, Mildenburger, Chuvalo, etc.)

And from what I see, Ali definetely had above average power. If he didn't, then explain to me how he ko'd 61% of his opponents? And don't give me the old accumilation excuse, because many times I've seen Ali drop many guys with one punch and ko guys with only a single combination. And Foreman and Folley are the only big names he knocked out you say? What about Cleveland Williams, Jimmy Ellis, Bob Foster, Ron Lyle, Chuck Wepner, Archie Moore, Oscar Bonavena, and on and on, and on....

And so what if Ali wasn't in top condition in every single one of his fights. Even Frazier was known to come in soft against Foreman, Stander, Daniels, etc. Even you boy Marciano wasn't 100% for fights like LaStarza I, and ****ell. But when Ali was serious, (which was most of the times), he was superbly conditioned.

Try again.

[RockyMarcianofan00]

I go by what I see, not what I hear, and in a lot of his fights, Ali blocked punches well with his gloves from what I see. And from what I see, in some of his fights he actually held his hands high, depending in the quality of the opponent, (Folley, Mildenburger, Chuvalo, etc.)

And from what I see, Ali definetely had above average power. If he didn't, then explain to me how he ko'd 61% of his opponents? And don't give me the old accumilation excuse, because many times I've seen Ali drop many guys with one punch and ko guys with only a single combination. And Foreman and Folley are the only big names he knocked out you say? What about Cleveland Williams, Jimmy Ellis, Bob Foster, Ron Lyle, Chuck Wepner, Archie Moore, Oscar Bonavena, and on and on, and on....

And so what if Ali wasn't in top condition in every single one of his fights. Even Frazier was known to come in soft against Foreman, Stander, Daniels, etc. Even you boy Marciano wasn't 100% for fights like LaStarza I, and ****ell. But when Ali was serious, (which was most of the times), he was superbly conditioned.

Try again.

I'm not getting into an arugment about if Ali had a good work ethic, I simply stated that Ali sometimes didn't go into the ring at 100%....I didn't say he ******...Christ calm down....

Anyway I would say I go by what I see but I haven't seen every single Ali fight, only a handful, and I rarely, if ever, saw Ali defend against a punch besides jerking his head back or moving...Also I figure I can go by what Dundee says considering he was ringside and was Ali's trainer so he'd know whats going on...

[QueensburyRules]

One thing that I really thought was interesting was a quote from Ali's best friend, photographer Howard Bingham. "Even the people who don't like Ali like Ali." That about sums up Ali after all these years. With the stigma of the Vietnam War and his conversion to Islam not only forgotten, but revealed as positive tests of character, Muhammad Ali has become an international symbol of peace and the goodness of the human race. Surprising, given that he shone as the biggest star of the most violent sport.

Ali was more than just a hero in the ring, he was a hero to people of all colors all over the world. Even some 40 years after he initially won the title against Liston and in his current debilitated state, the love and aura of hope that he emitted continues to reverberate through out the world abroad. It's impossible to hate Ali, because even the somewhat malicious things he perpetrated were done with a secret smile of sorts, and it was easy to forgive him for saying/doing things that others would be vilified for. In journalism, it's hard to be objective about him as a fighter, because in reality he was much more than a fighter. He was as much a public figure and domestic diplomat as any other entity in modern history. He was bigger than boxing; he dwarfed life.

There has never been a greater star in boxing, and not too many outside of the ring either. Although human, Muhammad Ali stands in a class of his own and is beyond the constraints of modern perception.

- -Nutin' better than some ol' school Ali love!

[HOUDINI563]

Regarding Ali’s punching power, light punches don’t do damage. Ali’s punches busted opponents up. Was Ali a puncher akin to Louis or a Foreman? No. Could Ali knock an opponent out with a well timed punch? Absolutely. Dundee said himself Ali could hit as did Foreman as did Liston.

Defense? Ali did use his overall speed to avoid punches absolutely. However you can see him effortlessly slip blows. The classic exhibition of slipping would be with Terrell. Ali in one sequence slipped two left jabs and a right hand consecutively. Also fighting with lower guard does not mean poorer defense. Some of the greatest defensive fighters ever to live fought with low guard...Tunney, Loughran, Leonard, Johnson.. the list is endless. Truely great defensive fighters would wonder why it would be necessary to constantly cover up with high guard?

[HOUDINI563]

https://m.imgur.com/iQMaW0O

[QueensburyRules]

Regarding Ali’s punching power, light punches don’t do damage. Ali’s punches busted opponents up. Was Ali a puncher akin to Louis or a Foreman? No. Could Ali knock an opponent out with a well timed punch? Absolutely. Dundee said himself Ali could hit as did Foreman as did Liston.

Defense? Ali did use his overall speed to avoid punches absolutely. However you can see him effortlessly slip blows. The classic exhibition of slipping would be with Terrell. Ali in one sequence slipped two left jabs and a right hand consecutively. Also fighting with lower guard does not mean poorer defense. Some of the greatest defensive fighters ever to live fought with low guard...Tunney, Loughran, Leonard, Johnson.. the list is endless. Truely great defensive fighters would wonder why it would be necessary to constantly cover up with high guard?

- -Terrell couldn't miss with Rts in the early rds as he turned the fight into a brawl.

Once he tore his eye on the ropes was the only time Ali could use the low guard against his wounded prey.

Why U never watch fights?

[HOUDINI563]

At no time was Terrell in the fight. It was a 15 round cakewalk for Ali. A dominant performance.

[QueensburyRules]

At no time was Terrell in the fight. It was a 15 round cakewalk for Ali. A dominant performance.

- -Watch the fight.

Club level brawl in the early rds. Ernie could miss with the rt.

[HOUDINI563]

Ali won by 15, 11 and 10 points respectively on the scorecards.

Completely one sided fight exemplified by the fact that Ali was unmarked at fights end.

[HOUDINI563]

Oh... and Ali won 13 out of 15 rounds on all scorecards.