Fansided

5 reasons Muhammad Ali is the greatest boxer of all time

By Dave Stevenson

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Sarah Foster, 21, looks at a signed 'Float like a butterfly sting like a bee' robe worn by Ali's cornerman Bundini Brown at the 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight - at the preview of the 'I Am The Greatest' Muhammad Ali exhibition on March 3, 2016 in London, England. The exhibition showcases the life and career of heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali and features over more than 100 artefacts including personal memorabilia, unseen footage and photographs. It is open to the public from Friday March 4, 2016 at the O2 in London. (Photo by Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Sarah Foster, 21, looks at a signed 'Float like a butterfly sting like a bee' robe worn by Ali's cornerman Bundini Brown at the 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight - at the preview of the 'I Am The Greatest' Muhammad Ali exhibition on March 3, 2016 in London, England. The exhibition showcases the life and career of heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali and features over more than 100 artefacts including personal memorabilia, unseen footage and photographs. It is open to the public from Friday March 4, 2016 at the O2 in London. (Photo by Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Chris Smith/Popperfoto/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Chris Smith/Popperfoto/Getty Images /

3. Float like a butterfly …

Before his suspension, Muhammad Ali lived up to the first part of his infamous motto, as he was so quick and agile that nobody could hit him. Ali’s footwork and quickness were rare to see in a heavyweight, and that was proven with his 29-0 record before his suspension. Sadly, his quickness disappeared after his suspension. But when he had his quickness, he was as close to unbeatable as any boxer ever, even Rocky Marciano.

Just how ridiculous was Ali’s quickness?

How many other boxers could dodge 21 punches in 10 seconds? Muhammad Ali drove opponents nuts with his quickness and agility, using them to deftly dodge punches and tire out his opponents. Ali was always a dominant fighter, but he was his most unbeatable self when he was still by far the quickest boxer in the world. And he did it while facing the best of the best.

Had he not been suspended, perhaps his quickness would be better remembered. Most only remember him after the suspension, when he was still an extremely dominant fighter, but not the butterfly that he was in the 1960s. In that decade, nobody could beat Ali because he refused to stand still long enough to get hit in the first place.

Next: 2. He could adapt

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