Muhammad Ali is overrated

Levook · Apr 14, 2022

Decker said: ↑

I think it's a serious thread. And I'm old enough when they showed most of his bouts on the boob tube. So I've actually seen his fights. In his era he was usually the bigger guy and had excellent hand-foot speed... until the latter part of his career. Ron Lyle (premature stoppage) and Shavers (15 rounds) - who both lost to CW Quarry - gave Ali very tough fights. He went life a death with Frazier 3X. In the 2000+ era Joe would have to decide to boil down to CW or be a fat HW. He would not succeed either way vs. top modern HWs.

He's overrated b/c he was a good showman and he became popular when the public started souring on the Vietnam war. All of a sudden he wasn't a draft dodger. What many like you seem to forget is that in the early days he wasn't all that popular w/ black Ams and despised by most of white Ams. It was clearly the increasing disgust of Vietnam that made him into a sort of folk hero. Ofc he was a top trash talker and promoter of his fights. Many years ago in this site someone wrote that it's his worshipers that overrate him. For example when Ali wasn't BSing he admitted that he wasn't a big puncher - and that was in the era of 195# HWs and "big" 220# HWs.

Ali was likely 0-2-1 vs. Norton. Ali-Norton III was a robbery. After the fight Norton said something like Ali is bigger than boxing. Norton was right. Compared to modern 2000s HWs Ali is too small and light hitting to be a serious factor. Same with Marciano (too small), Louis (small, chinny), etc. Ali was great in his era - no more or less.

Most people have agendas, whether criticizing past or current fighters.
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Ali is about the same size and hits about as hard as Holyfield, and many people feel Evander won the second fight against Lewis who is huge. What do you say to that?

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Muhammad Ali is overrated

Levook Well-Known Member Full Member

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Muhammad Ali is overrated

Levook Well-Known Member Full Member