Truth xD And it's pretty damned obvious to anyone who knows anything about him or even to those who've ever just heard the man speak that he was *well aware* of the fact that he was The Greatestー*AT LEAST* of his era (and that was a *seriously f***in' TOUGH* era, too, mind you…), and *up to THAT point* in the history of the sport. . . (…It's difficult for me to say "…of all time," you see, because I grew up during the Tyson era, watching Iron Mike *just DOMINATE* the boxing world, ya' know? And a man can only see so many *ferocious* beatings and first-round knockouts before inevitably pledging his undying, lifelong support to the one responsible for it. So, yeah. . . lol) . . .But of Ali, I will *ADD* thisーbecause while plenty has been said about his technical skill; his prowess, strength, agility and stamina in the ring; his [at the time] unorthodox, but wildly imaginative and successful footwork; and on his influence on both the æsthetic of, and overall resurgence in the popularity of boxing (both still seen and felt to this dayーwith some help along the way, of course xD); as well as his influences on both the black pride movement and on American culture in general, I feel like *this* is, quite frankly, something about the man that's sadly often missed: See, the thing that strikes me the most in watching these old Muhammad Ali interviews is seeing how The Champ somehow manages to project something of an air of humility, despite constantly reminding everyone that he was, in fact, "The Greatest" lol I realize that on the surface, that probably just seems like bullsh!t, but he actually shows it again here. Like, you notice that when prompted, he takes on an uncharacteristically (at least for when he's asked a boxing question, specifically) solemn demeanor? And then, rather than talk at length about how great *HE IS*ーsomething he'd regularly do, often rather playfully xDーhe instead makes a point about boxers of his era just being generally healthier. And he does this in other interviews, particularly after his retirement. For instance, he had nothing but great things to say about Mike Tyson, as well as his former rivals, Joe Frazier and George Foreman… at least when speaking in earnest lol But in displaying his well-known sense of humor, he'd still take occasional, playful "jabs" at them.
@@BoxingAutopsyrulesyoutube he said you can’t compare people of older times to people of newer times the same as you can’t compare a jet to a prop plane. Verbatim said this did you have the sound off
@@drewmckenna7 Not being able to compare different eras,Thats a level of nonsense and intellectual laziness that Ali fanboys dwell in as part of their illness. Sadly I don't share your view of restricking others speech because someone is so mentally fragile and feels entitled.
don't be a ding dong. he's had this question before. also, these shows give a massive heads up to guests what will be asked so they're not BORING!!! yes, it's entertainment.
@@u235u235u235So someone came up with a respectful answer. Get over it. The point remains that it was a nice thing to say and it was constructed well.
He basically said "They were good, respectable good. I still think I'd win, but I'm not saying they suck, I just think I'm better and was trained better."
@@Novictus i was just saying not to be overly-impressed with questions he's gotten before, and a subjects he's thought of lots. that's all. and additionally, these shows prime guests with the subjects they'll touch on so guests have something to say and be entertaining. what does respect have to do with it?
@@Warcodered01 yeah some might have had more raw talent but with a worse standard of training and diet it never shined. It's an impossible question to answer without a time machine unfortunately, because almost anyone wants those answers.
Technically he dodged it but not in the typical way, he just openly refused to go because he didn't believe in the war. He saw no reason to go kill people that did nothing to him. Theres nothing wrong with that...but he did get punished for do so.
@@HidingfrompeopleI feel like it's partially implied though. As by stating "for it's time", he cannot avoid including himself in that statement, since he knows he cannot possibly box forever. Which, of course, he didn't and could not. That his time will eventually be over, and that newer generations of boxers will take over where he left off.
@@Hidingfrompeople That is exactly what he is saying. He is saying talent like everything else changes and is part of an evolutionary process. What is optimal and ideal today will be obsolete in the future....including him.
@@Hidingfrompeoplepretty much what he said…didnt u hear his example of plains to jets. Players just keeep improving and soon he will be overtaken. Goat for his time but not of all time since everyone is evolving
@@Hidingfrompeople He implied it. The meta evolves with each passing year. New techniques are discovered. Old techniques are refined. So, by his own logic, he too will be surpassed one day
@@Ace-ng2pl you’re correct in your statement; however, 2+2=4 which is math logic. Computer logic (=) is an assignment operator, meaning you have to assign a value to something in order to perform a logical sequence of steps (algorithm).
@@YT-yv8deI mean him and his team pussied out against Inoki, who would've had no issue with kicking his legs into oblivion or choking him out. So they had to change the rules in Clay's favor. Can't be a GOAT if you aren't willing to face any and all comers under an unrestricted rule set.
People put off by Ali’s promotional hype banter and trash talking fail to recognize how humble The Champ was, as seen here honoring the giants who came before him.❤
Yup!!! We had a poem written by him in our middle school English language textbook followed by the oft debated story of him throwing his Olympic Gold medal in Ohio River in 1960. He is a worldwide icon. Phenomenon!!! And a draft dodger like Donald Trump. Or Joe Biden, allegedly!!
What a perfect demonstration of Muhammad Ali's incredible brilliance. He very diplomatically explained how every generation improves from the previous generation. He didn't take anything away from those great boxers in his explanation. He also did not declare himself to be the better boxer. What he did say was the techniques of boxing have evolved over the years. Perfect answer.
He says the sport evolved so comparing generations is wack bc MAYBE he wouldnt be as elusive as he was if he wouldve came up in that time. Very respectful
@@Hoopfan83he did say he would probably lose to Marciano because Rocky had no particular style and was just out there trying to clip you with anything and everything.
The best speaking boxer, presumably you mean, not the best speaker generally. There is another eloquence elsewhere which would reduce his eloquence to nothing by comparison
@@alcostello6114 Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee and talk shit like a wrestler. A big mouth can sell more tickets than a strong fist. He was just talented enough to get away with being disrespectful.
@@skineyemin4276 Basketball hasn't really changed much since his time though except guys play less defense now. Boxing evolved plenty between the days of Jack Dempsey and Muhammad Ali though.
Well, we all know that's just not true. Had there been MJ in an 1960s version with the same level of talent and work ethic but for that era was black and drafted, it would have been a totally different narrative for the NBA and maybe even foe legends like Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robinson would have been overshadowed. Also, look at what happen to Connie Hawkins when he was still in college. To me, at that time... the Hawk's game was just too scary, maybe too scary for that early mid 1960s NBA and I think he was purposely railroaded; the NBA already had to deal with physically dominant and articulate black players like Russell and Wilt and they just could not have 3 dominant (stylistically and/or physically) black players during that era in the same decade. Two were all the NBA could handle back then.@@acewilliams7917
thats what i say for a sports called cricket and everyone from that nostalgic time say no today players aint good i think they know more than one of the greatest person.
That was one of the most eloquent answers I've ever heard for a comparison of someone in the current time with someone from a previous time. it would be a good way for NBA players to think...ie. Michael vs LeBron.
@@UserVVV69to who? His point was that he was faster and more scientific than older boxers. Which heavyweights today are faster, more technical, and scientific than Ali?
@@UserVVV69nah. Ali's Era boxing was already developed. Someone like Jack Johnson or Joe luis was from 1910s and 1920s. Peoples of today are lucky if they can emulate Ali even a little. It's like the NBA, back in the days the pros couldn't even dribble with their left hand haha. But like I said with boxing Alis time the fighters already developed skills thst are still goal today.
"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws, and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples, dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and the souls. "On the basis of a Book, every letter which has become law, he created a spiritual nationality which blend together peoples of every tongue and race. He has left the indelible characteristic of this Muslim nationality the hatred of false gods and the passion for the One and Immaterial God. This avenging patriotism against the profanation of Heaven formed the virtue of the followers of Muhammad; the conquest of one-third the earth to the dogma was his miracle; or rather it was not the miracle of man but that of reason. "The idea of the unity of God, proclaimed amidst the exhaustion of the fabulous theogonies, was in itself such a miracle that upon it's utterance from his lips it destroyed all the ancient temples of idols and set on fire one-third of the world. His life, his meditations, his heroic revelings against the superstitions of his country, and his boldness in defying the furies of idolatry, his firmness in enduring them for fifteen years in Mecca, his acceptance of the role of public scorn and almost of being a victim of his fellow countrymen... This dogma was twofold the unity of God and the immateriality of God: the former telling what God is, the latter telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with words. "Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Conqueror of Ideas, Restorer of Rational beliefs.... The founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?" Tribute by a French NON-Muslim poet, statesman, historian: Alphonse de LaMartaine in 'Historie de la Turquie,' Paris, 1854.
He outclassed, outsmarted, outboxed EVERYONE of his era. Mike Tyson - The Baddest Man on The Planet professes that Muhammad Ali is STILL The Greatest!! ❤
If anything Jesus is the “ Goat” in the aspect of him being sacrificed for our lives and because he is the greatest of all time. Remember it, i love you. And jesus loves you for eternity.
@@coreythompsonTheOneandOnly …And made them better!!! The speed of a welterweight, the boxing IQ of Einstein and the punching power of a heavyweight champion, and the charisma of only himself the greatest, Mohammed Ali!
@@Jay-ft3xhyou are a moron who isn't understanding what he's saying and you've obviously never boxed or trained as a fighter cause with how you fight training is everything but some times it's about instinct. If your instinct is to dance and float like a phantom across the canvas then if you train that specific instinct to a razors edge you will cut through the defenses of someone who doesn't
@@perishedfirestorm555 the art of war. Win in your mind then go to war. I think he postured a lot to play head games with his opponents, and possibly convince himself. You have to hold a certain amount of respect or you might get surprised yourself. It takes a certain amount of courage to step into a ring with a worthy opponent. I was taught no one wins in a fight, they both suffer some pain if an equal pairing according to the tale of the tape and their past opponent history. I guess you don’t know until that first punch in your face.
His intelligence help him win fights. Yes , he trained consistently throughout his earlier years and that definitely helped. But, his intelligence and believing deeply in it, was extremely special. And he was the greatest boxer ever lived.
@@robleftyI’m not interested in that question because I don’t have a strong or well developed opinion on the intelligence of Muhammad Ali. I was simply pointing out the ineffective rhetoric. He didn’t ask a question as much as get very upset about the question and aggressively shout that
@@robleftyyou can definitely tell if a person is intelligent when it comes to how he responds and talks , no need for a PhD but this guy over here is reaching and it looks petty
Great boxer and extremely intelligent, which makes his Parkinson's even more heartbreaking. Not necessarily the easiest to like or humble but definitely one of the greatest overall .. rip champ!
@@terrillelliott8053 Are you saying Spinks, who beat an older Ali who underestimated the kid, is the greatest? Even though he got beat by more prepared Ali a few months later?
We all can aspire to be as thoughtful and intelligent if we trued to be as disciplined in believing in ourselves and our individual abilities. We need heros like Ali
Yea even Tyson was humble with his answer he said “physically and power wise I would be Ali, but I’ve never faced an opponent with that much sheer will to not give up with the speed an power an height to keep going, I can’t beat that”. No one told Ali when to retire. He should’ve retired in the mid 70s when he started getting signs of early Parkinson’s.
he is always humble when talking about any other fighter when not leading up to a fight with that fighter taunting ppl before a fight was one of his strategies
@@dooshkin8552 That was literally just part of the show, his way of promoting both his brand and the sport itself. I had the great pleasure to actually meet Mr Ali in the late 80's and he was humble and funny.
@@bigyup2750 You are sitting here trying to judge my maturity because I know very little about this person... Well here is what I do know, someone whom can speak with that much dignity and respect for another human being would be embarrassed to call you their fan. Keep the drama out of my pings I have no use for wastes of time.
This is why Ali was truly GREAT. He had humility, integrity, intelligence, pride, humor, courage, grace, nobility, and supreme physicality all co-existing in perfect harmony.
