Which Heavyweights Were More Complete Than Muhammad Ali?

Ali did things exactly as he saw fit in a way the he believed suited him best.

Unless he ever admitted to same it’s very likely that he displayed relative disdain for body punching lest it make him more prone to facial punishment (remember, he was the “prettiest” after all. Lol).

Another possible reason for Ali shunning the body is perhaps because Ali didn’t necessarily view body punching as part of the overall aesthetics he liked to put on display.

Before the FOTC, Ali was asked if he was nervous. Ali replied that he was only nervous about posting a good performance, putting on a good show for the spectators.

I think Ali considered himself as much an artist creating a brilliant painting as he did view himself as a boxer, plying his trade. The Williams fight is the prime example of Ali’s equally expressed, artistic side.

IF there was one fight in which Ali might’ve seen an even better result had he paid more attention to the body, I would nominate the Terrell fight.

Ernie had his arms tightly wrapped around his head for the greater part of the fight.

His exposed body was begging for it and if Ali had attacked that area more, he may well have caused Ernie’s guard to come down sufficiently for Ali to perhaps stop/KO Ernie.

Ali had Ernie in trouble in round 7, perhaps close to putting Terrell down. Thereafter, it seemed that Terrell doubled down even more to protect his head.