What made Ali the GOAT?

[Jefferson Jazzw]

The media.

[BodyBagz]

And he was a great showman
Put Young Clay in the internet world.....easy billionaire boxer

[Damn Wicked]

Robinson...... That's all I needed to see. U could have had Spongebob at #2. I wouldn't care lol

I've got Spongebob at #1.

Come at me, bro !

[edgarg]

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.

<

Mostly his big mouth. He dubbed himself the "Greatest" but it was all PR boloney. He was very good when young, when older had enormous capability to take punishment, had a great chin. etc.

Nat Fleischer first, and then many boxing experts (certainly not including Teddy Atlas. He's only echoing what REAL experts said) had a discussion about him, and all said that he did so many things wrong, relying on his speed and reflexes, that when he slowed down he'd take severe punishment.

And that's exactly what happened. There were several better fighters in history than Ali, but none of them called himself "The Greatest".

[Matt60]

Who did Joe Louis and SRR beat that was better than prime Sonny Liston (twice), prime Joe Frazier (twice), and George Foreman?