Was Ali's level of athleticism for a HW boxer unprecedented at the time?

He was kinda similar to Jersey Joe.

 

His speed and skills was like something that no one had ever seen.

People had seen those with power by then.

 

For me it's the Ali era were heavyweight boxing starts to evolve. And Ali was doing things that it was thought a man his size shouldn't be able to do.

 

Not in terms of boxing purely athleticism Bob Armstrong.

 

For a man his size, yes. He's different from earlier guys of nominally similar weight like Liston, Wills, Nino Valdez, etc.

 

John L Sullivan was a better athlete.

 

100% he was huge for his time but also faster then smaller opponents and tough as hell could take body shots without flinching overall quite a physical specimen for the time.

 

For his time? Yes. But he was quicker than any heavyweight today. So he was fast for any era.

 

Outside a boxing context, certainly.

 

Absolutely, we still haven't seen anyone like him at his best.

 

To the extent of my knowledge, Prime Muhammad was faster on his feet, and avoided punches better, than any Heavyweight before or after him. I have never seen one as fast as Ali, and I have seen most Heavyweight Champion Boxers, on film, or live (8 mm, Super 8, computer, and television).

 

Skills? No, Joe Louis existed, speed, Louis wasn’t far off either but he could punch too, Louis threw his shots clean not sloppy.

 

Avoided punches better than any heavyweight before him? Or after? No way, not close, no disrespect intended he got hit so often his chin became famous lol.

 

Unironically he really was so was James J Jeffries.