[Video] Muhammad Ali breaks down past champions, and Tony Galento

Ali was being pretty complimentary to all of them here. He was quick to say “but he was good” about all of them. I think he was always aware that he could be drawn into a “I am the greatest” claim in an interview but here he seems keen to establish that he knew who all those fighters were and that they were all good in their own way. Very respectful. On Louis he’s emphasising joe was as great fighter as can be without having the type of footwork Ali had. In my view he’s saying “he didn’t have my dancing but he was a greater short puncher”. It’s an extremely complimentary over view.

Bringing in Galento as the only non champion is interesting. He clearly respected him. I don’t think it’s an effort to include Tony as great a fighter as the others he mentions but more as a way to establish among non boxing people that nobodyin boxing is a joke. This is a serious business and if you heard of anybody it’s because they’re good. It’s almost as if he’s saying compared to normal people even the likes of Galento are killers.

 

Ali and Louis had very different footwork because they fought with very different styles. louis was a pocket fighter and Ali a dancer. Louis had very minimalist footwork to stay on balance to be able to counter. Ali relied on the in and out jabbing dance style. They are neither better or worse. Only different and done with totally different intent.

 

GTFO. Bowe with his excellent chin takes what Galento can give and sheds him on the inside. You think Futch and by extension Bowe couldn't figure him out? All due respect to Galento but come on. He might land a couple but good god is that a mismatch.

 

I totally agree with you.

All fighters have different type of footwork but the purpose is the same : be able to take an advantage over your opponent in order to hurt him.

But when i hear Ali saying "Joe Louis has a bad footwork" i'm very upset. A lot of person listen Ali and they gonna say the same. In fact a lot of people are usually saying that " the footwork of Joe Louis sucks even Ali said that " stuff like that. Even if i'm sure that Ali wasn't jealous of Joe Louis to me this kind of talk by Ali encourages people to believe that Louis had a bad footwork which is so false.

I was expected from Ali to say something like this " even if Joe Louis's footwork is not pretty as mine it was still very efficient (perhaps more than mine ")".

By the way we know that both Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Louis are the idol of Muhammad Ali. Imagine guys if instead of copying the style of SRR he copied the Louis one with a less mobile footwork. With Ali's characteristics it is a good mix or not ?

PS : i'm sorry for my bad english i'm french.

 

Ali had absolutelty BETTER footwork

 

Not sure what was efficient about Louis following Billy Conn and Walcott around the ring with ineffective baby steps for 12-15 rounds.

 

I'd say Louis had very, very good foot work. Can't remember ever seeing him off balance.

But it was a bit limited when dealing with movers. Nobody is perfect, though.

 

Every fighter has a difficult time nailing those mobile opponents with good lateral movement.
It must be a universal weakness.

 

What was the result of the fights ? Both get KO (only Walcott stand up till the end for the first fight).

Perhaps Walcott deserve to win the first bout but in the rematch Joe Louis showed the world how great he was.

For sure Louis struggled against boxer who moves well but he always found a way to win.

 

You may be missing the point: Louis found a way to win those fights despite his footwork, not because of it.

 

Plenty of fighters were more adept at cutting off the ring, closing distance, and getting their punches off against mobile opponents than Louis. Do you disagree?

 

I didn't say he won those fights only because of his footwork but imo it helped him. He was so economical with his steps that he was able to have a little more in the tank for the ending rounds than his opponents.
I mean look at the face of Conn in the ending rounds of their first fight. He was completely exhausted and (imo) it was the main reason he searched the KO.

To beat such great boxers like Walcott and Conn you must have a good or efficient (call it like you want) footwork because they moved so well. You can't tell me Louis footwork was unefficient against those guys.

 

Galento slays Bowe.

 

Based on what exactly?