The one thing that always comes to mind, is that there were quite a few fighters that fought Ali, that were knocked out by other fighters alot quicker. Or knocked down earlier. For a 'big man' 6' 3" 220 lbs. you would have to think average power in the 'force-energy' department.
generally he didnt have killer one punch power..he usually had to break you down some....but id say when he decided to sit down on his punches...which was usually later in the fight...the punches had a good bit more on them then say..at the begining of his fights..when he just trying to flash them out....
I would think, simply one of the smartest fighters ever. He liked to take you into 'deep deep waters', then pounce. Antonio Cervantes patterned his style after Ali, go after them very late!
Ali had decent power from 1960 to 1975....... By '76, Ali's power was heading south..... By 1978, it was gone....... Peace..... MR.BILLbbb
I agree with this assessment. Before 1976,the lower level fighters like Jurgen Blin,Rudi Lubbers etc lasted the course because Ali let them,basically. Later on he simply COULD N'T knock out people such as Leon Spinks and Alfredo Evangelista. Three or four years earlier,Spinks and Evangelista would have lasted as long as Muhammad's mood would have desired them to.
Tunney Hunsaker; Cassius Clays first opponent. Asked about Clays power after his 6-round fight. 'Clay's punches couldn't break a sweat' 'I've been hit harder by a horse-fly' 'Let me tell you, he hit hard for a middleweight, maybe he should drop down 25 lbs. 'Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johannson have nothing to worry about'
Not much of a powerpuncher and his overall punching technique was terrible. The so called flurries looked liked something from a kindergarten fight...
Not sure exactly when that happened, but if they sparred/fought anywhere near Ali's prime, Ali would've blasted him.