Greatest exhibition of skill: Ali-Frazier I or Holyfield-Bowe I?

What do you say? Please include some kind of definition of "skill" in your answer.

 

Yeah, there's no doubt that this was the greater exhibtion of overall textbook skill with sound fundamentals. But even though both Ali and Frazier were unorthodox they were still very skillful IMO. They had their respective styles down to a tee, and were very smooth and rhytmical in their movements in a way that Bowe and Holy weren't.

So it's down to that elusive definition of "skill". Joe's bob and weave is not really part of a fundamentally sound technical defense (too energy consuming), but he did it very well and it worked for him. So to what degree is that skill?

 

Yeah, that's a valid viewpoint. You could also argue that great skill in some areas is just as good as good skill in many areas if it gives the same results.

EDIT: And then we also have things like anticipation of the opponents moves, "radar", sense of positioning, timing and ability to stay relaxed etc. These aren't really technical skills in that sense, but still skills.

 

Ok, let's phrase it like this then: Fighter A is super skilled in categories A and B, but only average in categories C, D and E. Fighter B has good skills in all categories. Seen over the five categories they have the same skill in average. Does this mean they are equally skilled or not?

A second point is the "EDIT" in my last post. There are skills that aren't technical skills but still skills. They should somehow be a part of the whole package as well, I think. Or are they to define as "abilities" rather than "skill"?

 

A related question is, who was the most skilled version of Ali? The one in FOTC or the one in Manilla? The younger version was faster and smoother, but the older version fought a more sound fight in terms of fundamentals and exhibited a somewhat more varied skillset (fighting on the inside against Joe).

 

I'm not talking about results, just some things Ali did better in Manilla. Overall he was better in FOTC, though.