Originally Posted by
fan johnny
Originally Posted by
Max Power
Originally Posted by
fan johnny
The 70's when most people didn't really understand how dangerous boxing was to one's health. Just seeing what it's done to Ali, has been enough to keep many of the best athletes from pursuing a career in boxing. The risk reward is just too much. And then there are other factors were boxers are still exploited. Today, when we see a gifted athlete, he dominates.
Muhammad Ali was unique in that he TRIED to get hit with punches. He never developed any reflexes and merely won (if you can call it that) by outstaminising his opponents!
Hardly any other boxers become so brain damaged as that today because they actively TRY NOT to get hit!
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Perhaps we can thank Ali for the motivation for modern boxers to develop a defence!
Where did you get so enlightened an Ali's strategy in the ring? Do you mean the rope a dope? I have no idea what you mean when you say Ali never developed reflexes and just won? Can you elaborate so I might be more enlightened.
This is my analysis of Muhammad Ali...
I consider 2 versions..
Muhammad Ali I: Was very fast of hand and feet, was also longer than most of his opponents. He had, as always, great stamina. This Ali was CHINNY (and obviously looked it).
This Clay/Ali performed a "merry-go-round" of his opponents where he was always out of range so his opponents couldn't hit him. But most of the time he couldn't hit his opponents either. He darted in to land his own shots and then get immediately out of range. He avoided much punishment in his first career this way, because he speed, allied to his length advantage enabled him to play tag.
However, you can already see that this Clay/Ali, when he remained for anytime in punching range of his opponents, was hit even by the SLOWEST of punches! Break out the old black and whites and have a good look again, but this time with a critical eye and forget about all the myths you've been fed.
Clay was decked by 185lb Cooper a straight up light HW and a straight up BUM (see record). No HW boxer today would ever be decked (and basically KOed) by a guy like that!
Muhammad Ali II: This Ali was strong for the era, he had a harder chin, even an iron chin for the criteria of the day. And he had great stamina as always. This Ali was still one of the tallest boxers but was no longer particularly tall. And this Ali had lost his foot speed and most of his handspeed. He had become a slow, plodding overweight. His new tactic was basically landing some wind maker shots and then wrestling and fouling.
Because he no longer had his speed, the truth about Ali's reflexes was totally exposed, he had none! Because earlier, he never had any need to develop any!
What followed is probably one of the most disgraceful careers recorded. Being smashed from pillar to post in nearly all of his fights.
I hope I was thorough enough.
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