Historical NATURES GENTLEMAN

Muhammad Ali:

“Now, a lot of people ain’t going to like this. But I’m going to tell you the truth – you asked me. There are too many great old champions to list them one by one. But there’s no need to. I think Joe Louis could have beaten them all in his prime. I mean anyone you want to name. And I would have beaten Louis.

Now, look – people don’t like to face the facts.

All they can think about is Joe Louis’ punch. Well, he did have a strong punch, just like Liston has a strong punch. But if Louis didn’t hit anything but air, like Liston didn’t with me, then we’ve got to look at other things. Even if Louis hit me a few times, remember they all said Liston was a more challenging one-punch man than Joe Louis. And I took some of Liston’s best punches. Remember that.

Also, I’m taller than Louis. But I’ll tell you what would decide the fight: I’m faster than Louis was. No, Louis and none of the rest of them couldn’t beat me. Look – there has never been another fighter like me. There’s never been anything like me.”