Biggest Weakness of Ali and SRR?

Robinson didn't really have any weakness.

 

You think the Ali v Berbick fight was close?

 

Yes, and I'm not alone. The announcers say as much at the closing bell, albeit with obvious surprise and puzzlement.

 

SRR's inside game wasn't the best

 

Not knowing when to quit

Really, they both had few weaknesses in their respective primes.

But, they both fought way beyond when they should have permanently retired.

At least Ray was selective and just took big fights here and there for a huge payday

Ali should have quit around '76 and Ray should have quit after the 3rd Duran fight.

 

The OP is talking about Sugar Ray Robinson.

 

Ali's big weakness was he had difficulty when an opponent jabbed with him.

That's why Norton did so well against him. Norton wasn't fast. Norton didn't have fast feet (he drug his back foot). Norton threw looping punches for the most part. But Eddie Futch taught Norton to jab with Ali ... and it messed Ali up. Ali liked to set the pace and control the distance with the jab. He hated getting hit in the face when he jabbed. It totally threw Ali off his game.

Wlad and Vitali Klitschko had the same problem. They weren't used to eating jabs, so when an opponent jabbed with them, they had to stop and reset. Hell, Tyson Fury outpointed Wlad just by throwing jabs at Wlad (they didn't even have to land, and Wlad had to stop and reset).

I never really saw anyone jab with Ray Robinson. But Ali couldn't deal with a jab coming right back at him.

Most guys who depend on the jab as a primary weapon get thrown off if someone jabs along with them, because they base all their other punches off landing the jab first. And if they keep getting a jab back in the face when they throw a jab, they can't let their other shots go.

It's like the mentally go "Wait ... let's try that again" and the follow up punches they normally throw after the jab don't come. They have to constantly reset.

Ali messed up Liston by jabbing with Sonny. Sonny wasn't used to people hitting him when he tried to jab. Holmes got messed up by guys like Carl Williams, Tim Witherspoon, Norton (even Weaver in some rounds) because they jabbed with him.

 

Oops, sorry about that.

Well, I'd say the same for SRR.

 

Great post

 

I was going to mention his lack of a top hook ,but I knew I'd get the Bonavena example in reply if I did.Holmes didn't have much of a hook either.

 

Alis problem was when he jabbed his right hand was out of the guard position .Futch told Norton when you jab keep your trail hand in position,your jab will land and his won't.

 

I think Ali had a very good hook come uppercut tbh.

 

I don't understand this term. How does "top" modify "hook" ? Is this in contradistinction to a shovel hook or body shot, or does it mean something more specific or entirely different?

 

Robinson's and also Leonard's weakness was competitiveness. ( But it's the main reason most of us love them) They both got reckless and got hit by shots they could've avoided. (But, that same competitiveness got them wins against Turpin and Hearns when they were behind in points) They could've easily done a Mayweather jr. But would they have won against the fighters above? Ali was his lack of the basics. Like hands held high, not pulling away but blocking and slipping punches. Once he began to slow down, we found out he probably was the toughest S O.B to ever lace em up, but he took to many shots. A good body attack would've helped him also.