Ali’s performance in its own right was aesthetically perfect and appeared to represent Ali at the height of his powers. Ali himself never bragged about his performance though, explaining that he understood and appreciated the degree of Williams’ physical impairments post gun shot wound. Ali also said that he respected Williams’ coming back from the wound and bringing himself back to at least the shape he was in for the fight.
This fight is a good example for why best performance and best win should be distinguished. This was Ali at his fastest, most athletic and overall best physical condition. However, it was against an opponent who was very much out-of-prime (and still was definitely not the best he beat regardless).