Why did Ali never learn how to box properly?

[BKM-2010]

He did have a unique style I remember hearing at one point that he trained with a guy that Ali adopted some of his ideas on how to box. I can't remember this boxers name though, If I remember correctly this guy was spanish looking.

Plus although Ali was a boxing genius he was actually labeled a slow learner when he was younger. He likely procesed iformation differently then average. This may of allowed him to box differently then most people and be succesful at it. I have heard that Ali's style has ruined many boxers trying to emulate him.

This is so true. Men like Ali and Roy Jones JR. or Pernell Whitaker etc. were extremely succesfull but it would be foolish to teach an "average" up and coming boxer their kind of styles. Ali and others were succesful because of their insane physical prowess and I bet they would not have been as good with a textbook boxing style.

[young_robbed]

what a bull**** post man Ali is top 10 p4p IMO and top 2 HW lock, not beet fighter is perfect. Nobody knows how to box PERFECTLY if that's what you mean. yet he still beat great elite fighters

[BigStereotype]

what a bull**** post man Ali is top 10 p4p IMO and top 2 HW lock, not beet fighter is perfect. Nobody knows how to box PERFECTLY if that's what you mean. yet he still beat great elite fighters

Chill, man. If a lesser athlete tried to fight like Ali, he'd get killed because that technique is all wrong.

[MickyHatton]

Define box properly?

Isn't success in the sport you represent highlighted by the fact you must be doing it correctly?

Exactly.

I guess he didn't box as per the book but his skills were sublime, therefore who is right the books or the champion?

[Spartacus Sully]

boxing properly is understanding what your doing and doing what you need to do when you do it.

if you have you hands low but understand what you have to do in every situation when you have your hands low you are boxing properly.

[SNVDoublePunch!]

I've heard the phrase "If this is wrong, I don't want to be right." and if what Ali did was without knowing how to box properly, than it's a good thing for him he didn't know.

[Rolaz]

He won't be a Boxing Champion in Heavyweight Division, and won't be a Gold medal winner in the Rome Olympic, if he doesn't know how to box properly.

[SBleeder]

He did. It was 98. He's just lost a lot of steam on it so he relies more on the cutter. JAB, if you want to delete this post, go ahead, but I can't even see the words Mariano Rivera without something to say about it. As far as I'm concerned, he's the God of Pitching.

OK, OK, bad example on my part. My point is that if a person is successful in his sport, than he is doing things "properly". The rules of boxing don't prohibit, for example, leaning straight back out of the way of punches, so if a guy can do it with success, than it is proper for him.

Most trainers from the early 1900s would say that any modern fighter doesn't box "properly".

And I agree that Rivera is the GOAT closer.

[Steak]

there is no such thing as a 'proper way to box'. There are millions of styles in boxing, and they all have their own weaknesses and strengths, depending on the physical attributes and mind of the boxer.

[JAB5239]

Thread title should have been "Why didn't Ali learn the fundementals". Lot of good arguments on why he DID box properly. There is not one I've ever heard that says he was fundementally sound with his technique and skills though.