Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali (Part 13)
Ali had an unusual stance, constantly shuffling his feet and baffling his opponents while never remaining stagnant. He had lightening like speed and yet he would hit and sting his challengers with utmost accuracy. He knew exactly how to beat each opponent
according to the specific style of each fighter.
Unlike most fighters, Ali was too confident and fast to keep his left hand up to protect his face. He was quick and possessed sheer pace, which allowed him to hang his gloves down, just dancing and swaying around the squared ring.
Only a few great fighters were able to hit Muhammad with perfect accuracy. The average challenger found it difficult to even touch the legend. He would knock them out while glancing around them. They would be unaware of where the
knockout punch even came from. That was the agility and power of the thunderous boxer.
Muhammad Ali had tremendous reflexes; he could dodge and move away from attacking challengers with utmost ease. His footwork was simply phenomenal, never remaining still or stagnant. This made him a target that was continuously
moving, creating a lot of problems for anyone who would face him.
With a reach of 82 inches, he knew exactly how to connect jabs that would slowly frustrate the other fighters. His immaculate reach made it difficult for most fighters to come close to him. He would fend away incoming punches like
a man would swat away a fly.
Iron Ali’s strength and power was mostly underrated. For a lean boxer he had tremendous raw power. It was his lower body power and stamina that most people spoke of. However, the tall and quick Muhammad had immense upper body force
as well.
Whenever he got caught in a clinch situation with the opposing fighter that was when he mainly used his upper body control and influence. He never liked fighting up close to his challenger. Hence, at those moments he would use his
upper body skills.
He would drive his opponent away from his body, returning to the position he was most comfortable in. He enjoyed maintaining his distance so that he could use his reach to attack and at the same time protect and defend himself from
his counterpart.
Muhammad- the steel-like- Ali had another great natural asset. He had a god gifted jaw of iron. In other words, Ali could take a heavy punch without even being fazed or hurt. He had an iron jaw. Ali’s strong chin helped him many
times in his boxing endeavours. Especially, if he was up against a heavy slugger, for instance, the likes of Joe Frazier or the Big George Foreman. His chin of steel never let him down.
His toughness allowed him to handle severe body shots. The legend was also greatly known for his counter attacking abilities. Whenever, he would be getting pounded, the versatile Muhammad would always find an opening or an opportunity
to counter-hit his fellow boxer.
If anyone left even the slightest of opening for Ali, it could cost them the fight as he would use even the smallest of chances to knockout his adversary. The Merciless Ali was also famous for being relentless in his attack if the
bout had any personal anger involved in it.
A perfect example was the beating Ernie Terrel had received at Ali’s hands of rock, simply because he refused to call the Champion by his proper name. Till date, it is considered to be one of the worst beatings any boxer has ever
received.
The kind-hearted Muhammad was a fighter for half of his life and a supreme humanitarian for the other half of his life, which he is still living by simply giving and giving, expecting nothing in return. He will be appreciated till
he lives and perhaps much more once he has gone. This generation is lucky to have a human of his calibre between them. He will always be a legend.
The mighty Ali will forever be remembered for his unbelievable boxing career. The world may never see such a complete fighter ever again. Muhammad Ali was a total fighter. He possessed every aspect of a whole determined warrior.
He was a one man army. Complete in every aspect of the sport. Ali was not just a whole boxer but he was also a full human, containing the perfect ingredients that make a legend.
The one-in-a-kind Ali was a true boxing soldier. He was the most adaptable fighter the world could ever see. Perhaps, never again will anyone have the lightning like speed and thunder like roar that the three times World Heavy Weight
Champion had. He could damage and control his rivals at whatever pace he pleased. Muhammad Ali was The Greatest boxer to have ever stepped into a boxing ring.
Muhammad Ali is history on the move, history in the flesh. Muhammad Ali, a leader in the ring. He would float like a butterfly, sting like a bee and execute blows that absolutely no one could see.
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