Then known as Cassius Clay, Ali shakes up Liston and the world. He then demolished Patterson inside of one round in the rematch, he did the same. An aura of menace surrounded this ex-con and former leg-breaker for the mob, his reputation so dark that many were of the conviction he did not merit the opportunity to fight for the world title, despite the fact he had defeated virtually every viable contender prior to facing champion Floyd Patterson. Incredibly strong and powerful, in 1964 he was regarded as just shy of invincible. Instead of staying moored in one’s home country or in Las Vegas, like so many titlists of recent years, “The Greatest” trekked about the globe, boxing in such diverse locales as Switzerland, Malaysia, Ireland, Japan, Germany, the Philippines, and of course, Zaire, in the process cementing his status as a figure of global significance.Ĩ. Sonny Liston: Charles “Sonny” Liston was a truly fearsome heavyweight. Ali takes a left hook from Frazier: his toughness was second to none.ĩ. A True World Champion: Few boxers have fulfilled the title of “world” champion the way Ali did. And it should be noted the Wepner knockdown was the result of “The Bayonne Bleeder” stepping on Ali’s foot at the moment he landed a right hand to the ribs. Ali was knocked down only four times in his career, by Sonny Banks, Henry Cooper, Joe Frazier and Chuck Wepner. Precious few boxers in the history of the sport have withstood the kind of firepower Ali took from Frazier, Norton, Foreman, Shavers and Holmes. In fact, Ali proved too tough for his own good. They watched him dance and slip punches and concluded if he was ever hit squarely by a serious puncher he would fold up like a cheap suitcase. Chin: One of the ironies of the career of Muhammad Ali is that for years the old-timers questioned his courage and toughness. Ali dancing in Zaire: his speed and mobility were extraordinary for a heavyweight.ġ0. Years past his prime, Ali still enjoyed a decided speed advantage over most of his opponents, a testament to his astonishing athleticism. His amazing speed and reflexes allowed him to introduce a level of artistry and elegance to heavyweight boxing which changed the public’s perception of the sport and pioneered new tactics and techniques. His quickness and mobility was a revelation in the 1960s big men simply did not move like that. Speed: There is little doubt that a prime Ali is the fastest heavyweight to have ever stepped through the ropes. note: To further keep this in perspective, guys like Harry Greb and Henry Armstrong fought more than twenty times in a single year.) Ink drawing by Damien Burton.ġ1. Meanwhile, from 2010 to 2015, Wladimir Klitschko competed twelve times Floyd Mayweather just nine. To put his activity level into perspective, consider that in the span of five years, 1970 to ’75, he answered the bell twenty-two times, in the process giving sports fans his trilogy with Joe Frazier, two tough battles with Ken Norton, his unforgettable knockout over George Foreman, and wins over a host of elite-level contenders including Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Jimmy Ellis, George Chuvalo and Ron Lyle. A Fighting Champion: Unlike so many elite-level boxers of today, Muhammad Ali wanted to establish himself as a truly great boxer and he knew to do so meant staying active. Here are the reasons why he assumed such magnitude and had a profound impact on both boxing and the culture at large.ġ2. He was a truly great boxer but he was also a truly important world figure. Without a doubt, Muhammad Ali will forever stand as one of the most influential and famous athletes in the entire history of athletic competition.įor those not entirely clear as to why Ali commands such respect and meant so much to so many, consider this list a sort of primer on the greatness of the man they call “The Greatest.” There has never been, and likely never will be, an athlete like Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali’s death in 2016 caused the entire pugilistic world to stop and reflect upon the far-reaching legacy of a man who was, in many respects, truly bigger than boxing, bigger than sports. Today is the anniversary of the birth of the amazing athlete who changed boxing forever and, as we must each year, we take time to celebrate his life and career.
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