What made Ali the GOAT?

[Matt60]

Can anyone give a breakdown of Ali's boxing skills? I believe he is the GOAT because he beat the best competition in history. Liston might be the #2 best heavyweight in history and Ali beat him in the 1st round. GOAT performance. I'm struggling to figure out what made Ali so great. Pre-layoff, he had lightning quick speed. Impossible to hit. After his layoff, he was slow and took a lot of hits. His power wasn't amazing. Yet, he still beat Frazier and Foreman so he must have done something right.

How was Ali's power?
Was his game fundamentally sound?
How was his defense?

Teddy Atlas says that Ali did everything wrong from a fundamental perspective. His hands were always below his waist. He got with it due to his other worldly skills.

[E-Thug]

Intangibles - heart, character, iron will, the desire to face the best repeatedly, mental strength etc

He was blessed with immense physical skills such as handspeed, foot speed, reflexes, accuracy, toughness/chin but his mental gifts aka intangibles are probably the best ever

You have to understand - he has the greatest resume of all time and he did that and beat those guys..... without a prime, having spent it in prison for standing up for his beliefs.

[ShaneMosleySr]

He isn’t the GOAT.

He isn’t even the best heavyweight of all time.

Joe Louis is by far.

Everyone is line behind Louis has an argument for number two, including Ali. But He’s one of many making that argument.

[LowKeyFresh]

You have to understand - he has the greatest resume of all time and he did that and beat those guys..... without a prime, having spent it in prison for standing up for his beliefs.

I think this has a lot to do with it. The boxing community recognized his drop in physical skills, and he still beat the greatest of his era while they were in their prime based on boxing skills, intangibles, and durability.

[Bandman]

Ali arguably had the best chin ever. on top of the skills that took him over the top.

[miniq]

His willingness to die in the ring

To fight any man born from their mother

Mentally unbeatable, like Fury.

His boxing had plenty of flaws, He was a massive headhunter but beyond his boxing it was his toughness and fighting spirit that set him apart. You have to kill him to stop him.

Ali was an animal, a titan and he had a pretty face.

[Ca$ual Fan]

He took up Foreman and beat him when he was at his unbeatable state and he was real scary at that time with KO streaks plus dethroning the champ with ease. One of the best wins (if not the best win) in history.

Had one of the best trilogies in history against another all time great in Frazier plus 1 of those fights being epic with dramatic ending recognized as the fight of the century.

Looked unbeatable during his early run as a young and athletic boxer. One of the youngest fighters to win a HW title by beating a respectable champ as heavy underdog.

Definitely a GOAT material with GOAT performances and achievements.

[GhostofDempsey]

He isn't the GOAT, not even close.

[Roadblock]

Regarded as the Greatest HW boxer of all time by the vast majority of the planet, his impact on the world outside of boxing was immense, a great Man.

[LetOutTheCage]

He was the top guy in the golden era of heavyweights thats why, the division was stacked with talent during his fighting period and he had the best resume in the division.

His heart and chin was GOAT worthy and he did it all while losing his best years for standing up for what was right.

How many great fighters were inspired and took up boxing because of Ali. Its obvious why he is the GOAT