Muhammad Ali for me was the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time.
Of course this subject is objective each man will have his own individual selection and reasoning behind his choice.
However I feel that there is a very strong case for Ali's election as the G.O.A.T.
1)Skills. In his era Ali faced another candidate for most skilled Heavyweight of all time; Floyd Patterson. In this fight Ali used a supposed Patterson shoulder injury to his advantage and throughly outboxed his disheartened opponent. For a demonstration of the more mature Ali's skill, see Ali v Clevland Williams.
2)Speed.Ali at his peak had spedd which was rivalled only by the aforementioned Patterson and perhaps later Jimmy Ellis. This spee was the key to Ali's brilliance. Similarly to Roy Jones Jr. early Ali relied greatly on his natural athleticism for such exhibitions of natural brilliance as Liston Ali 1 and Ali Cooper 2.
3)Power.Muhammad Ali's power in my opinion and i'm sure in many of his opponents opinions was underrated. He was the first man to stop Oscar Bonavena with a dynamite left hook after Bona Vena had gone the distance with Frazier and Foreman. Other punching displays such as those withWilliams and Liston illustarte that the lip could really smack...
4)Ring Generalship. For me this is wher Ali snatchess the crown of GOAT. His adaptability, intelligence and all round mastery of the ring was a heavyweight rendition of Maeldrick taylors or Floyd Mayweathers feat...On the defensive against Foreman, on the calculated assault against Terell or in a to and fro battle like the Thrilla in Manilla or the third Norton fight Ali WAS king of the Ring and all its contents. Every boxer aspires to have that presence.
5)Chin and Heart. Better chin than Louis. Bigger heart than Tyson...Ali was a true was a superhero in there! Finishing fights against guys like Kenny Norton and Joe FrAZIER WITH A BADLY BROKEN JAW, TAKING EIGHT ROUNDS OF ABUSE FROM YOUNG gEORGE fOREMAN...gETTING UP FROM cOOPERS LEFT HOOK...Getting up from Fraziers hook in 1971. Refusing to go down against Frazier in Manilla, staying upright against Holmes in the twilight of his career...
I attempted to start this analysis with a clear mind and unclouded judgement, but when one begins to examine the career of Ali, it is impossible not to be swayed by the man's brilliance. He was simply unbelievable and unquestionably the greatest heavyweight of all time in my mind.


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