Numerous reports tonight that the Greatest may only be hours away from death. I'll be devastated if true. Keep fighting champ! Not religious but I'll be saying a prayer tonight all the same
I'm devastated. An absolute hero of mine. A legendary athlete, but more important, a legendary human. His legacy will live forever. RIP Ali
Sad to see him go but isn't it funny how attitudes in the UK have changed? I remember growing up in the 60s and 70s and almost everyone disliked him, particularly in his very early days. My family couldn't stand him. I think in those days it wasn't the done thing to admire loud, brash, confident, self-opinionated people. It was only later that his humour was appreciated and the penny dropped - he was taking the piss out of himself really. These days we appreciate the virtue of being confident in ones own ability and I genuinely believe that Ali helped shape that mindset in us. I despise boxing but he was a true champion, a very clever guy and a truly great man who fought for civil rights and the less well off in society. Sad to say the 2016 Reaper is having a good time of it.
Sat on my parents bed as a boy listening to the Clay vs Liston fight watching it through my fathers eyes. I knew something huge was happening , just didn't quite know why . Mohammed Ali rewrote the meaning of trash talk . Like many , I went from despising Clay to respecting Ali like very few others I respected in sports The Greastest Sports Story Ever Told ......RIP.
The greatest heavyweight Boxer that ever lived in terms of showmanship and entertainment, There were better skilled boxers before his time and after but if you want to see one of the best intimidates of fellow boxers then just listen to him before during and after his match. He was definitely the greatest boxer that ever lived but not the best boxer that ever lived...
I said the greatest for entertainment but there are plenty of boxers in the past regarded better fighters...
Completely disagree Dai. Other than Sugar Ray Robinson, nobody else comes close. Depending on preferences it's either Ali or SRR as the pound for pound all time great. For me, given his athleticism, speed, power, endurance, agility, footwork in the heavyweight division, Ali is the GOAT. Don't forget, the world was robbed of what would most likely have been his peak years as he was banned from boxing for refusing to be drafted into the military. The irony is however, Ali being banned was the best thing that happened to his legacy as it allowed Fraizer and Foreman to take advantage and build themselves up as his legendary rivals. Had he not been banned, we might have never got the Thriller in Manilla or the Rumble in the Jungle.
Joe Lois,.rocky m are just two that would have put ali away in a short time valley....even Tyson was a better boxer. they were street fighters that could take a punch.....Yes he was good but never the best....
Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano were smaller versions of Foreman and probably didn't hit as hard as him. They were flat footed fighters and Ali would have danced around them and hit them at will with his superior speed. Against them it would have been a late stoppage, probably cuts, or a wide UD. As for Tyson a better boxer than Ali, no chance in hell. A better puncher, but that's about it.
Valley in your dreams mate. these were proper hard men that ali in his prime and them in their prime would have knocked ali out in two or three rounds, He would never be allowed to showboat with these type of fighters....
I must have been in the minority within my peer group but I don't think so , i loved watching and listening to the man , every aspect of his career was a news headline from winning his 1st Championship , throwing away his medals , refusing the draft , becoming a muslim ( although the impact for me wasn't recognised ) the alleged association with the Black panthers , the civil rights movement , being refused licences to box and the guy just kept coming back for more .IMO the greatest fighter certainly I have ever seen and a true Icon of the 20th Century .RIP
Woke up this morning to this, put a lump in my throat and a tear to my eye. Your in no minority Matt, never knew any one who disliked him at all when was a kid. I remember going to the cinema as a kid with my beautiful Dad to watch an 'as live' next day, rerun of the the thriller in Manilla and screaming at the screen every round, along with every other patron I might add. In between rounds the crowd who were on their feet the whole fight were chanting Ali,Ali,Ali. The only people who didn't appreciate the legend as the force of nature he was were just dick head racists anyway.
