Longer clip where Ali explains why his footwork-based defensive approach and why he feels it is superior for boxers who have the speed and understanding of distance to pull it off (I'd argue that reach advantages are important too). Shows Jack Johnson some love too. https://streamable.com/l1xx3
Tunney is another one who uses similar defence. I think he is right. Defensively, the footwork is better defence. Although, of course it relies on other things such as having the power to keep the opponent at range and also good defence when in range or attacking.
You don't have to choose between movement, guard and head movement - you can use all of them. I love fighters that always stay defensively responsible because it's so, so hard.
I agree. And Ali's tactics work if you're blessed with significant physical advantages (like his speed, height/reach, and reflexes, etc.). But it seems like a potentially foolhardy or ineffective approach to boxing if you aren't.
Ali could probably have stood on one foot with one hand behind his back and beaten most of his physically and athletically out matched 60s competition. In the 70s, against other tall, athletic fighters like Bugner, Lyle, and Norton it was more difficult when Ali didn't have the "significant physical advantages."
