BoxRec

Ali's power was a bit underrated.

Before someone jumps on the comment...

No, he was no Mike Tyson, Klitschko, or Foreman in the power department but Ali could hit some.

Ron Lyle and Oscar Bonavena were not easy to knockout, and Ali stopped them.

I still can't believe it.
Losing your hero is hard the man transcended the sport of boxing.
He was a hero to millions who didn't even follow the sport.

A sad day for boxing and the whole sports world. One of my favorite boxers when I was a child. He was known all over the globe. I don't know who was more famous and recognizable between him and the great Pele. Both are global icons.

One of the greatest boxers ever and the best heavyweight champion that ever lived.

R.I.P, champ! You'll surely be missed!

Tony1244 wrote:Not only do I believe he could have done well in other sports, he could have found much success as a standup comic or great salesman.

Pah, other sports would have wasted his talents. He was destined to be heavyweight champion, the greatest prize in all of sport ( in the right hands ) I've always found it highly insulting when people say if Ali was born today he would be a running back in the NFL. Never, ever in a million years would he be 'lost' to such a mundane position and mundane sport. Disgraceful!

I'm no fan whatsoever of Colin Hart, the self proclaimed boxing expert, but he summed it up well....

'The earth could spin on its axis for another million years and there will never be another Ali'

lillywhite14 wrote:

Tony1244 wrote:Not only do I believe he could have done well in other sports, he could have found much success as a standup comic or great salesman.

Pah, other sports would have wasted his talents. He was destined to be heavyweight champion, the greatest prize in all of sport ( in the right hands ) I've always found it highly insulting when people say if Ali was born today he would be a running back in the NFL. Never, ever in a million years would he be 'lost' to such a mundane position and mundane sport. Disgraceful!

I'm no fan whatsoever of Colin Hart, the self proclaimed boxing expert, but he summed it up well....

'The earth could spin on its axis for another million years and there will never be another Ali'

Great quote from Colin Hart who I don't always agree with either.

I'm not saying Ali should have been anything else, just saying you could have been. I'm glad he was a boxer.

I have to admit I was a Norton fan but Ali fought them all and won most in an era where 5 or 6 could be or was a champion. Have to respect this MAN.
RIP CHAMP

Rest in peace Muhammad Ali

He was ill with Parkinson's disease for decades. His living to 74 would have surprised a lot of people.

In 1964 he surprised a lot of people who believed Liston was invincible. I listened to the fight on the radio and when I told some neighbours he won they were really surprised. In 1974 most people thought he would have been too old to beat Foreman. He fought for far too long. Sad to see the way he finished up.

RIP Muhammad Ali. He was a legend in both the boxing ring and out of it. He stood up for what he believed in so much that he sacrificed his most prime years of 25-29, but still accomplished a lot after he was allowed to come back. One of the all time greats of the 20th century.

Tony1244 wrote:Ali's power was a bit underrated.

Before someone jumps on the comment...

No, he was no Mike Tyson, Klitschko, or Foreman in the power department but Ali could hit some.

Ron Lyle and Oscar Bonavena were not easy to knockout, and Ali stopped them.

Fair comment.

I think Ali's perceived lack of power was mostly down to his style.

He wasn't the kind of guy who would dig his toes in & go for maximum velocity punches.

He was more concerned about volume & often seemed more content to land a series of lighter punches, rather than go for a haymaker.

It's so sad, RIP.

Ali was one of those people for whom you could sit and write a tribute all day, but it would never be enough. What he achieved inside of the ring, his impact outside of the ring and the way he touched so many people's lives is incredible. There are really no words for it. He was such a big character and amazing person that no matter how ill he was, I still can't believe he's not here any more. There will never be another Muhammad Ali.

Thank you, champ. Rest in peace.

Definitely an integral part of my love of boxing. Gotta say I wish they focused more on the fighter than idolizing a deeply flawed and discriminate man. Such a tough fighter, the Olympic torch scene always chokes me up. I'm sure Frazier is holding open the ropes in the sky for round 42. Rip champ, war Frazier.

SteveZ1968 wrote:I have to admit I was a Norton fan but Ali fought them all and won most in an era where 5 or 6 could be or was a champion. Have to respect this MAN.
RIP CHAMP

The number of top 10 heavyweights Ali beat is probably unsurpassed. But I think Kenny Norton was hard done by finishing 1-2 to Ali. Norton's legacy would have been a whole lot different if he'd got the nod in one of the two bouts awarded to Ali.

Rip champ.whilst he has passed away the legacy he has left in the ring and far beyond it will live forever.

an ocean of tears,teardrop by lonely teardrop can not wash away the pain and loss for Ali's family, friends and fans, but we can remember beyond tomorrow. It was a great pleasure meeting you in 1972 and following your journey from about 1963.

I have certainly been one of Ali's biggest critics but I clearly understand that his career accomplishments are incredible and, based on accomplishments, he is likely top 5 all-time among the HWs. However, like Mike Tyson, he really transcended boxing because he developed a larger than life personality and endlessly fascinated the world. People who didn't even watch sports knew who he was. Much respect to the champ and may Allah (swt) grant him jannah and comfort his family in this difficult time.

Rest in peace.

I could watch his fights / poems / interviews forever !

I like the story of Ali in the iconic picture, where he is shadow boxing under the water, looks an amazing photograph but Ali didn't like or couldn't swim, so it was took in the shallow end of a pool and Ali just had to duck his head under the water until they managed to get the best shot. Find it funny that he hated doing this and its still turns out to be an epic photo of him.

A great man, with it's inevitable flaws, notably trying to be too many things at the same time.

He will both be remembered for his courageous stand against the war, and his unjustifiable and cruel treatment of his adversaries, Frazier in particular.

On the way in to Marylebone tube today

I've shared this story on another forum so I apologize for repeating myself.

Tunney Hunsaker, Ali's first opponent, was from my home state of West Virginia. He eventually became chief of police in a town here. When he retired in 1992, Ali came here for the ceremony. Now this wasn't a huge event with loads of media coverage. This was a small ceremony in a small rural town. That he took the time to make such a gesture impressed me quite a bit. Pretty decent man to me. I saw an interview with Hunsaker's wife & she had nothing but kind words for Ali.

Tony1244 wrote:Ali's power was a bit underrated.

Before someone jumps on the comment...

No, he was no Mike Tyson, Klitschko, or Foreman in the power department but Ali could hit some.

Ron Lyle and Oscar Bonavena were not easy to knockout, and Ali stopped them.

How so, he never had KO power...

JoeCorrao wrote:

Tony1244 wrote:Ali's power was a bit underrated.

Before someone jumps on the comment...

No, he was no Mike Tyson, Klitschko, or Foreman in the power department but Ali could hit some.

Ron Lyle and Oscar Bonavena were not easy to knockout, and Ali stopped them.

How so, he never had KO power...

KO power is relative as I tried to point out above.

Tony1244 wrote:

JoeCorrao wrote:

Tony1244 wrote:Ali's power was a bit underrated.

Before someone jumps on the comment...

No, he was no Mike Tyson, Klitschko, or Foreman in the power department but Ali could hit some.

Ron Lyle and Oscar Bonavena were not easy to knockout, and Ali stopped them.

How so, he never had KO power...

KO power is relative as I tried to point out above.

It's absolute within the ropes. It's not like he was a lightweight Duran moving up to middleweight and not carrying his power.