Speed and finesse-the heavyweight division never seen a man so fast of hand and foot. This guy was greased lightning.
Impact-Ali at one time was the most recognized man on earth. He was more than a boxer he was the voice of a generation. He took a stand against Vietnam and did not budge. His joining the Nation of Islam was also seen as controversial but once more he was a man of principle.
Courage and Character-beside the outside the ring persona. The in the ring persona when Ali went down against Joe Frazier in super fight 1 he silenced his critics who said that he had no heart.
Heart -he stuck it out and retained the title after 7 years at the age of 32. He also beat a man thought of in 1974 to be unbeatable George Foreman
The 1970s-this was by far the toughest era in the heavyweight division. Ali beat all of the top men. Yes a few controversial verdicts like Jimmy Young and Norton 3 were debatable.
He never ducked anyone. There will never be another like him. Like The Beatles Bruce Lee John Wayne Elvis Presley Jackie Gleason and The Three Stooges one of a kind. The guy also had charisma and a gift of gab like no other.
1. Longevity. Ali was one of the longest reigning undisputed heavyweight champions ever, only Joe Louis & Lary Holmes [by 1 defense] had longer reigns as undisputed. Wladamir Klitschko also had a longer reign as a title holder.
2. Competition; Muhammad Ali always fought the best, and in many occasions this meant he was the underdog [even after considering his long title reign]. Ali beat many men in his prime, including men like an undefeated prime young George Foreman, who went on to beat and win a title 2 decades later in the 90's [kayod Moore after Moore gave Holyfield a boxing lesson].
3. Life outside the ring. Muhammad Ali was probably the most colorful person in boxing ever. He was invited to speak in universities, riots and talkshows and he would carry the show wherever he went. Ali was also one of the most controversial boxers ever and likely third most influential boxer in American [USA] history third only to Joe Louis and Jack Johnson.
He won the heavyweight champion title three times - but so did Evander Holyfield
He was never beaten at his prime - but so weren't Rocky Marciano or Jim Jeffries
He was the fastest Heavyweight of his time(they say of all times) - but so was James Corbett (and they called him also the fastest ever, Net Fleischer called him faster than Muhammad Ali)
He was Heavyweight Champion for a long time - but so was Joe Louis
He called himself the greatest of all time - but so did Jack Johnson
He was very charismatic and had high self esteem - but so were Jack Johnson and Mike Tyson
He was technically great - but so was Ezzard Charles
Do you really wanna know, why he's the greatest? The reason is the competition of his time. Ali fought in the Golden Age of boxing and nobody ever fought so many great fighters at their prime as Ali did. Ali was the greatest at a time were all competitioner were great. Joe Frazier, George Foreman, George Chuvalo, Jimmy Young, Ken Norton, Jerry Quarry, Leon Spinks, Earnie Shavers, Floyd Patterson, Cleveland Williams, Zora Folley, Larry Holmes, Ernie Terrell, Sonny Liston, Oscar Bonavena and Jimmy Ellis, they made Ali immortal as the Greatest of All Times. If Ali would've fought in a different era of boxing and Ali wouldn't have beaten them(excet Holmes of course), nobody would call him the greatest of all time.
First of all, the man was physically and athletically gifted. He's a 6'3", 215-pound heavyweight with the speed and quickness of a welterweight. He's amazingly fast and agile for his size, with incredible hand and foot speed. He had almost inhuman reflexes that allowed him to rewrite boxing fundamentals. Instead of ducking, slipping or parrying a punch, he pulled his head back or sideways to evade an oncoming punch. His stance was also unorthodox. He kept his hands on his sides, thus leaving his torso and his head entirely open, but nobody touched him. His footwork allowed him to "disappear" in a blur.
Secondly, Ali was highly skilled. He wasn't a big puncher but he threw a lot of punches in bunches. He neglected body punching, but his head shots were fast and precise, that he scored quite a lot of KO's.
Thirdly, he was a great human being. Helped a lot of people, endeared himself to his fans and the media and sacrificed personal gains for his beliefs, right or wrong.
Ali was one of the most athletic heavyweights ever he had the foot movement and hand speed of a welterweight. He also knew how to sell tickets and win a fight before the fight even started before Mayweather, Tyson , and Camacho. Ali knew trash talking sold tickets peopl would want to see Ali get his big mouth knocked out and the trash talking would get into his opponents head and made them fight aggressive and Ali was one of the greatest counter punchers.
Officially voted THE GREATEST ATHLETE IN HISTORY and rightly so. Thats of all sports not just boxing.
How the hell a 16 stone man could dance around a boxing ring for 15 rounds was just superhuman. He was, and may still be, the most recognised person on planet earth. A great boxer and great person. I wrote to him a few years ago and he wrote back to me. I also have a signed picture of him and the great Joe Frazier - signed by both of them. God bless Joe Frazier.
Good question. I've heard a bunch of reasons, most or all of them are good, valid reasons.
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In a nutshell, There is no way to train for the way ALI fights. That's what makes him great In the ring. His Fearless nature and willingness to Question Authority is what makes him great Outside the ring.
Go to wikipedia and look at the pages they devoted to the man, definitely more than his fellow greats as Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Willie Pep. His was a more compelling, inspiring story as not only among the greatest fighters but among the greatest human beings ever to have lived on this planet.
He is considered one of the best because he was an honest champion, meaning he did not duck people as others have done.
He fought contenders that the previous champion had avoided for years.
He fought them all. He was an icon. He took on the American establishment and won. He showed his fellow Americans how degenerate and disgraceful the Vietnam War was and was a transcendent athlete.
One of the greatest men ever.
He's not the best anymore being in his 70's but back in his prime ,he was fast ,smart and very charasmatic ,he dominated in one of the strongest eras in the histories of heavyweights.
Possessed more skills, then any other Heavyweight, and fought the toughest competition, out of any heavyweight, and missed a few years of prime.
His fighting skills and their stamina is always diposed the opponent. He is a really a tough challenge for the opponent.
He was the BEST of his time and took on all comers and disposed of them. He fought anyone anywhere anytime.
-Because as a Fighter, He could; "Float like a Butterfly, & Sting like a Bee..." And the Opposition NEVER who what Hit Them !! ;)
cos he said no to the government, no he wasn't going to war.
not cos he was good (shh....people say he cheated in the thriller in manila, numb hands, foreman food poisoned, etc etc....shh)
He fight popple on a sage. And he puunch dem.
Don't know if he was ... he just thinks he was.
