Actually truth be told and as is the case with Roy Jones Jr. everything Muhammad Ali did in the ring was against what boxers should do such as carrying your hands low and leaning back from punches but his reflexes, foot speed, and hand speed were so great and lightning fast that he could get away with it which was exactly what made him so great as the world had never seen a big man like him with such athletic skill and gracefulness moving around the ring. When at his true best he was practically unbeatable but he could get careless sometimes and somewhat lackadasial in the ring and even didn't come into some fights out of shape like he did vs Jimmy Young and Leon Spinks for examples. But Muhammad truly at his best as he was vs Liston and Cleveland Williams was a phenomenal fighter like we have never seen before or since.
I think arrogance was one of his weaknesses (as well as one of his strengths to some extent)
As the other commenter stated, he got caught beautifully by Cooper (though I didn't expect him to lose at any time during the fight), and Frazier really went to town on him.
I think, if he trained hard and concentrated, he was awesome. However, that cocky attitude did sometimes lead to him taking shots he didn't need to take, big ones on occasion as well.
I don't put a lot of stock in him being knocked down though. These are heavyweights who train to knock people out. It doesn't matter how good you are, or how strong your chin is, if almost any heavyweight catches you just right, your going to drop. It happens to everyone now and then. It doesn't make them any less of a fighter. It's just biology.
Certainly. I can think of several. His lack of punching power would be one. Also he was not a good inside fighter and hardly ever threw a body punch.
clumsy henry cooper dropped him bad smokin joe owned him in there first match he also lost his last 2 fights he was good but he had his weakness
wasint he the most complete heavyweight u can be ?i dont think there are many heavyweights alive that would beat him