This is a demonstration of perfection in fighting. As a former boxer, in my humble opinion, I cannot even begin to imagine any fighter coming close to beating Muhammad Ali on this night. This was in 1966 when Ali was 24 years of age. In 1967, at only 25 years of age, after KO'ing Zora Folley, The Bastards stopped Ali from fighting for 3 and a half years, when Muhammad Ali would have been in his appsolute prime as a fighter. Muhammad Ali gave us all so many great memories, and I thank God for that, but can you imagine what we could have seen from the rest of 1967 to 1971? Wow!! God bless you all .. Kind Regards .... John.
How does skinny-fast 188 lb (vs Miteff) to 213 lb (vs Williams) low-power prime Clay Beat powerful prime Super Heavyweights Lewis, Bowe, Vitali, Ibeabuchi, Wladimir, Fury, Joshua and even Holmes, Tua, Tyson or how about 6'7" 83" reach 93% KO's Wilder vs Ali 6'2.5" (passport) 78" reach with only 60% KO's ?? [[ "HE DOESN'T" ]] Imagine small Clay/Ali trying to manhandle these fighters and hold them behind their neck like he did to little Frazier exactly 133 times during their 2nd boring lackluster fight. Giant Tyson Fury would have cut off the ring and tied little featherfisted Clay up in knots during clinches. Ali actually lost 9 fights (Norton II & lll, Shavers, Young) not 5. And his faculties were severely traumatized for an entire decade ..it's not how you start IT'S HOW YOU FINISH Why is everyone so afraid to expose or even question extremely biased media hyped Ali? Wanna know why? Because left-wing cancel culture is real. Just try to remove Ali from #1 rankings/polls and watch what happens. Who did Ali actually beat? Old man Liston quit and took-a-dive. Williams was gut-shot point blank with .357 magnum and almost died 4 times. Foreman panicked and punched himself out. 205 lb Norton broke his jaw and little one 👁️ Frazier smacked yo greatest senseless into La La Land.
This is the best Muhammad Ali you will ever see, tip top shape, fast, light, strong. I don't care who you put in front of him, no one was gonna beat him.
not true,williams looked like a piece of shit stand up android, He was a fucking BUM. He didn't even try to throw one jab!!!! are you kidding folks?? It's easy to look like the greatest when fighting this stand up bum who was 10 years too old already and a perfect stand up BUM style for ali to get in groove. Ali had problems with the tyson styles, short relentless and matching his speed, Thats the fighter to test ali. tyson the night he fought spinks, wins 7 rounds of a 12 rounder from this ali. ali was the best shape in 64-65 when he was a little younger.
No one is saying that Williams was not a worthy opponent. I just alluded to the fact that Ali was in incredible tip top shape during this point in his career.
He was but as in tyson, they both were at their best when they were their fastest, tyson at 22 and ali at 23. Ali wasnt motivated anymore after 1965. Ali already looked a bit sluggish with terrell and foley, Foley was a BUM, just like every fighter clay fought in the 60's. liston had the big power but guys like holyfiled prime would have outpointed liston. this ali looked greater than usual because williams was a stand up BUM and made ali look better,
I think Muhammad Ali at this age in this shape could have beaten any heavyweight fighter from any era in their prime. Speed, reflexes, power and pinpoint accuracy, not to mention that he might have been one of the best defensive boxers of all time. The footwork and hand speed were astounding!
54 years later in 2020.....still.......nobody has the backing to announce “I am the greatest!”. Muhammad Ali wasn’t just a “Once In a Lifetime”........ he was “Once of All Time”.
Cleveland Williams was shot in the stomach 2 years prior to this fight. If you think that Ali was unstoppable because of this performance you are ignorant. Please stop being a moron.
Wow! I'm old, but not old enough to have seen Ali except at the end of his career. He was so fast and graceful in his prime. It was like he was floating around the ring, he was so smooth. Such fast hands, too! I don't think I've ever seen a heavyweight with hands that fast. Imagine a prime Ali against a prime Tyson.
@@jamespierce8096facts especially when you watch ali vs floyd patterson who also used peekaboo and floyd was like an inch or 2 taller than tyson and he still got whooped
Ali looked magnificent in this fight, but I think it's slightly overrated, due to Williams being a shell of his former self. He was past his prime and had 2 bullets in his body (1 in his kidney, after being shot by a police officer) so Williams condition helped Ali look so good. To me Ali in the first Patterson fight is Ali at his best. No Heavyweight that ever lived could beat that Ali.
@@user-ny2gt7zc7t "2 years ago": True but Ali got back up and proceeded to carve Cooper's face up so severely that if the referee hadn't stepped in he'd have lost an eye.😒😒.
This was Ali at his best ever . IMO ît's almost insane . Normal people can not do that ! Most of people think that boxing is a sport of fighting but Ali show to the world that it could be a Art . Just like a perfect ballet .. for those who know boxing this is like a symphony
I don't think the Big Cat hit Ali but maybe twice, three times at the most, in the meantime Clay/Ali knocked BCW down three or four times before eventually knocking him out.
Williams just wouldn't fight. Ali just intimidated him in the early rounds. I used to think Tyson would have been able to beat Ali. Not so sure about that anymore. Not Ali his prime like here. This was a different breed of fighter in those days. Real craftsman.
@@Shovelhook A lot of great fighters in their prime fought washed up fighters, but they never displayed this type of grace, speed, and magic in one fight, the way that Muhammad Ali put on for display against Cleveland Williams! Not even close! This fight is still shown to up and coming amateur boxers, for its technical prowess, foot work, agility and speed. From 1966 till to this very day, of 2022 were still talking about it, 56 years on. Still the STANDARD of BOXING EXCELLENCE!
Combos were so fluid like poetry in motion :) Footwork was like 'dances with the stars' on its 10 best nights combined. Ali at his finest here! Such a treat to see :)
Muhammad Ali was incredibly good fighter. He was enjoyable in his defence, in his attacking , in his movement, in his running . when he was being hit, he was enjoyable too.
Those who compare Ali with Mayweather as a runner chicken are not right...Ali was an incredible defender but also he has an attack very hard...and he was able to absorb an incredible amount of punches on his body ...mostly on his kidneys...and go ahead without loss speed or legs...he was a complete fighter...genial.
@@stevena1467 please piece of crap ...inaugurate your brain first and then try to not compare the greatest Ali with the product of advertising market ... it is , of course: Mayweather. ... Mayweather is a pale shade only if compared with the number 1 ever: Mohamed Ali.
Had Ali had a good knockout punch he would never have been beaten. But with his great speed and agility he was just remarkable to watch. What a master of the ring!
@@nickfanzo I think what the original commenter was trying to say is that while he was incredibly strong, he never utilized his strength for any heavy/quick knockouts. His fighting style was to wear down his opponents over a series of rounds by means of accumulative pain and cardiopulmonary wear down.
It's good to see a compassionate stoppage by the ref, especially back in those days. Williams was very brave, but it was only going to go one way that night. Ali like a force of nature.
Whatever anyone might say or have said, this is Muhammad Ali's Greatest performance. The Best performance of any professional boxer in history. Hagler/ Hearns three rounds was more brutal, but this was Ali's finest performance. Great fight. Great atmosphere.
Ali was a fantastic athlete. some say he didn't punch that hard that's not true. he threw his right with great stretch reflex . that generates into power
Ali had a strong punch, people only say he had a weak punch because he fought some of the strongest punchers boxing ever had to offer. Liston, Foreman, Frazier, Norton, Shavers, Holmes. All of those fighters would absolutely wipe the floor of any modern boxer besides maybe Mike Tyson in his prime.
No he would react more to the pressure wich would make the pace crazy what isn't in his favor. Frazier would ko him even faster, don't know. You need to slow that pace against frazier and you better don't fall for his rhythm like foreman did.
@@marouentebini3248 no, I think he wouldn't beat Vitali klitschko or lennox Lewis. Ali fought like a tall guy like he was back in the days but they both would make him look like a cruiserweight. They would absolutely oujab him and out muscle him. Ali couldn't even have his style in modern boxing because he isn't the giant anymore.
@@marouentebini3248 I know but his style was fighting tall because he was a giant back then, he was like the klitschkos or fury in his Era. How can he fight like a tall guy being much smaller? The modern hw's would weigh minimum 20 kg more and are much taller. Ali is no inside pressure fighter.
You almost have to feel sorry for anyone who fought Ali during the mid-60's. It just seems unfair. He was a whirling dervish - must have been like trying to fight a tornado. When they swing at him, all they hit is air!
Never relized how much the crowed booed Ali when he was introduced at the beginning of the fight!!!! No wonder he came out and turned the big cat to a pussycat
for his brashness, black nationalism, black pride, principled anti-war stance (firmly against the majority consensus and political establishment). and association with what they called "extremist negroes".
He played the “heavy” , he saw the wrestler “Gorgeous George” get the audience riled up and pay money to see him lose , so, Muhammad, bought in the multimillion dollar purses, it was all about chiching $.
This was Ali at his very best. I’ve always said that on this day in history he was the greatest fighter ever and unbeatable . Just an amazing display of precision, timing, skill and execution.
Many regard this to be Ali at the peak of his powers, here vs. Big Cat and then he has Terrell to dispatch and Foley...forget if others, before exile. But the point is that this was the VERY beginning of his prime years, which would be utterly robbed for 3 and a half years. We NEVER saw how good he would indeed have become. That is the ace in the hole when comparing him to other great heavyweights and just fighters in general. What he did in coming back after a 3 and a half year layoff at 28 was just utterly amazing.
MacArthur Clutch I agree with you, friend. Much as I loved the Frazier trilogy, there would not have been need for it, without exile, I would wager. I TOTALLY respect Joe, for what he was, as a person and great fighter and champion, but the truth is, Joe had everything going for him and was at the very peak of his powers, that first fight. Ali, gone 43 months, just two quick tune ups, one going 5 rounds stopped on cuts. The court bills, for the Supreme Court battle and his divorce, forcing his hand some, too early ideally for facing a Joe Frazier after such a layoff. Joe also had the added benefit of the hatred to fuel his fire, for all of Ali's promoting and subtext, i.e. The Man wanted a less militant champion, etc. No disrespect to Joe, but he was never the same or close, after the first Ali fight. He had some health issues, true, and one bad eye, but he fought two low level fights only in the next couple years, his manager wanted him to retire, etc. Rather dangled Ali for a spell, who fought 10-13 times in the same time frame, or between their rematch. The boxing powers finally mandated a Frazier defense against Foreman. He of course showed incredible bravery, and his last great fight was the third with Ali, my favorite of all time, a tremendous warrior. But without Exile, Ali would have quit from boredom, like as not, at some point, if not squeezed utterly dry by the Nation Of Islam. No exile, and what you say is true, very comparable record and reign, to Joe Louis. He was nearly unTOUCHABLE, pre exile. Norton, one and done, as well, though he would always be his rubik's cube, as to style, he could have stayed outside, won by being on his feet, his bicycle the whole night. Best to you.
HOME Bellinfante Yes, of course, in all fairness (I am a complete Ali buff). Ali asked his people or thought aloud about it, prefight, and was told the best thing for him to do for Cleveland would be to take him out early, mercifully. THis is why he did what he did. Mr. Williams gets major credit for his efforts. But Ali was a thing of beauty here.
Man if ever time and space travel would be invented, that astrodome on that night would be the first place I'd go to. Those people were unbelievably lucky to have witnessed such a refined Ali, live.
Late great martial artist prophet Bruce Lee said Muhammad Ali is in another class by himself. Muhammad Ali is a heavyweight with hand speed and feet movements like a welterweight with heavyweight power. That is a unique status for Muhammad Ali.
No other fighter in history had so much class and elegance. Besides its obvious, devestating effectiveness, Ali's boxing style is a thing of beauty. An artistic performance of the highest degree
Boxing in its perfection. Can I say " what a beauty " if I can. This was boxing lesson 101,no contest from Cleveland, it was Ali at his best. He was surely the greatest of all time. He lives !
This Ali vs '71 Frazier, I wonder how that first fight would've actually turned out. Or how about this Ali vs 70's Norton, or this Ali vs Holmes. IMO Ali would've never lost
The word is this was mohammad Ali's masterpiece performance I've never watched it before I was 3 years old at the time of this fight so this will be a thrill
Yes!...It is accepted, that a fighter slowly declines in his abilities around the age of 29-30...Yet Ali re-invented himself, and fought at 215-220lbs in the 2nd half of his career. He was a different boxer by then, but still graceful, well-trained, etc. I just wish that he had retired after humiliating Big George! His body had taken a lot of punishment during those comeback years, and he likely brought on his physical ailments by continuing to fight a couple more years.
The absolute best showing of Muhammad Ali..Too bad the Vietnam Case took away his prime and probably the best years that was yet to come…His best weapon during his first tenure as Champion were his legs…
It's really just not fair when Ali throws 12 punches in 5 seconds and hits you with 10. You don't have to have an amazing knockout punch when you hit someone fairly hard in the face that many times they're going down eventually. Unless of course you're a concrete head like Joe Frazier. But then again Joe never fought a prime Ali. That's what was so amazing about him. Even when he wasn't even close to being as good as he was (he literally lost his prime years) , he was still the best.
Uses the entire ring to carve the man up, Ricardo Lopez also excellent at this. Most fighters try and dominate the centre of ring and push opponents backwards, whereas Ali uses the outer perimeters to stick/stab like a matador. Easily beating stronger more powerful men. Skills pay the bills.
i have watched boxing from featherweights to heavyweights and no one dances around the ring like ali i do not understand why no one copies his style. most just stand there and throw punches but Ali floats around the ring controling the fight,. Amazing
Mohammed Ali c'est de l'art 🥊 je vole comme un papillon 🦋 et je pique comme une abeille 🐝 repose en paix 💔 Mohammed Ali tu as marqué l'histoire de la boxe 🥊 comme personne tu étais le meilleur et tu le restera 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
This man shows the real art of boxing! A beauty boxing demonstration with no equal... this Ali it's one to 1000 years!!! No body could reach that level, than till now!
People say he dance to much talk too much dancing is not fighting but when you perfect it like ali and sugar ray robinson its really perfecting coordination speed timing and agility in movement he out boxed. and out smart this guy moved with grace and perfect ion once he was able to hit him it was total destruction he knocked him down 4 times. with tremendous speed and power use of whole body he was just slapping this man around no quick knock out or knock down. you got to admire not just a perfected master craft boxer at best but how to create many openings and hit with lighting fast speed actually producing shock this is the greatest performance ever in boxing you admired an unstoppable force for about 2 minutes who do you think can beat him that night he was really in the zone
There was never anything like this and never will be again. Hand and foot speed faster than a lightweight but hitting like a heavyweight. No one past or present beats this guy.
Bastards keep calling him Clay, well Ali doesn't need their respect anyway, he's the GREATEST of all times, and watching him in this fight proves my point for me.
Roger may weather and others love to say Muhammad Ali doesn’t throw body shots. Those jabs to the body were beautiful. Stopped Cleveland in his tracks. Muhammad’s combination punching was on full display here. Amazing.
Gotta give it to Williams. He came out in that third round swinging despite surely knowing he was just gonna get badly beat up, and was still standing ready to fight at the end when the ref had the sense to stop it. Ali is the GOAT, absolutely no contest.
I am kind of new to boxing. I can see the difference in Ali here to when he was older. His speed is brutal. Frightening for anyone to face him here. Looks like torture in there!
I don't see any boxer able to beat this Ali. Not Frazier,Norton or anyone. The speed stamina combinations just the complete boxer not to mention his perfect chin.
Saved by the bell. "You OK, Cleveland? Can you get back out there this round?" "Yeah, I'm fine, coach. Just give me the ball, and I promise I'll score this time." 😂
Ali at his absolute prime. The first knockdown at about 19:14 was a solid right that caught Williams leaning in, not unlike the "Phantom Punch" that took out Liston in Ali-Liston II.
This is a demonstration of perfection in fighting. As a former boxer, in my humble opinion, I cannot even begin to imagine any fighter coming close to beating Muhammad Ali on this night. This was in 1966 when Ali was 24 years of age. In 1967, at only 25 years of age, after KO'ing Zora Folley, The Bastards stopped Ali from fighting for 3 and a half years, when Muhammad Ali would have been in his appsolute prime as a fighter. Muhammad Ali gave us all so many great memories, and I thank God for that, but can you imagine what we could have seen from the rest of 1967 to 1971? Wow!! God bless you all .. Kind Regards .... John.
Beautifully put 👏👏👏
@@devillehall6171 Thank you kindly, from the heart mate :)
What was your record?
🙌🏾
How does skinny-fast 188 lb (vs Miteff) to 213 lb (vs Williams) low-power prime Clay Beat powerful prime Super Heavyweights Lewis, Bowe, Vitali, Ibeabuchi, Wladimir, Fury, Joshua and even Holmes, Tua, Tyson or how about 6'7" 83" reach 93% KO's Wilder vs Ali 6'2.5" (passport) 78" reach with only 60% KO's ??
[[ "HE DOESN'T" ]]
Imagine small Clay/Ali trying to manhandle these fighters and hold them behind their neck like he did to little Frazier exactly 133 times during their 2nd boring lackluster fight. Giant Tyson Fury would have cut off the ring and tied little featherfisted Clay up in knots during clinches. Ali actually lost 9 fights (Norton II & lll, Shavers, Young) not 5. And his faculties were severely traumatized for an entire decade ..it's not how you start IT'S HOW YOU FINISH
Why is everyone so afraid to expose or even question extremely biased media hyped Ali? Wanna know why? Because left-wing cancel culture is real. Just try to remove Ali from #1 rankings/polls and watch what happens.
Who did Ali actually beat? Old man Liston quit and took-a-dive. Williams was gut-shot point blank with .357 magnum and almost died 4 times. Foreman panicked and punched himself out. 205 lb Norton broke his jaw and little one 👁️ Frazier smacked yo greatest senseless into La La Land.
This is the best Muhammad Ali you will ever see, tip top shape, fast, light, strong. I don't care who you put in front of him, no one was gonna beat him.
not true,williams looked like a piece of shit stand up android, He was a fucking BUM.
He didn't even try to throw one jab!!!!
are you kidding folks?? It's easy to look like the greatest when fighting this stand up bum who was 10 years too old already and a perfect stand up BUM style for ali to get in groove.
Ali had problems with the tyson styles, short relentless and matching his speed, Thats the fighter to test ali.
tyson the night he fought spinks, wins 7 rounds of a 12 rounder from this ali. ali was the best shape in 64-65 when he was a little younger.
No one is saying that Williams was not a worthy opponent. I just alluded to the fact that Ali was in incredible tip top shape during this point in his career.
He was but as in tyson, they both were at their best when they were their fastest, tyson at 22 and ali at 23.
Ali wasnt motivated anymore after 1965.
Ali already looked a bit sluggish with terrell and foley,
Foley was a BUM, just like every fighter clay fought in the 60's. liston had the big power but guys like holyfiled prime would have outpointed liston.
this ali looked greater than usual because williams was a stand up BUM and made ali look better,
You fool - Ali made Williams look like a chump but
Williams was a great boxer.
Ali was just so damn good - invincible.
you are a fool Muhamad Ali was the best of the best !
Strong as heavy rock and graceful as a ballet dancer!
May God cover him with mercy and love
I miss him with all my heart and I never knew him. I wish I got to meet him at least once in my life
Ballet dancer👌👍love from india
You'll NEVER SEE A MORE BEAUTIFUL BOXING MATCH EVER!
That was PURE MAGIC!
I think Muhammad Ali at this age in this shape could have beaten any heavyweight fighter from any era in their prime. Speed, reflexes, power and pinpoint accuracy, not to mention that he might have been one of the best defensive boxers of all time. The footwork and hand speed were astounding!
Mike Tyson >
@@Narration___Nation How old was Tyson when he got knocked out the first time?
@@babulah8447 ...Michael Gerard Tyson was four months shy of his twenty-fourth birthday.
@@brucescott4261 So that would make him 23 years old?
@@babulah8447 I'm pretty sure you are correct
54 years later in 2020.....still.......nobody has the backing to announce “I am the greatest!”. Muhammad Ali wasn’t just a “Once In a Lifetime”........ he was “Once of All Time”.
Tyson would win
well put
Ali had some great fights but he also fought a lot of stiffs.
Alis record is piss poor man he's a hype job
@@Narration___Nation ...How?
RIP G.O.A.T. Muhammad Ali 1942-2016😔😢
You can watch boxing for a 1,000 years, and never see another boxer fight with so much beauty, speed, and grace, like Muhammad Ali showed here!
Cleveland Williams was shot in the stomach 2 years prior to this fight. If you think that Ali was unstoppable because of this performance you are ignorant. Please stop being a moron.
Nah, Sugar Ray Robinson just as good. Don't dare to argue with me.
Idk man I mean 1000 is a long time
It's been said Bruce Lee watched this fight over and over again wondering how he could incorporate the *Ali Shuffle* into his technique.
Thomas Molitor:And I believe that he did .
🤣🤣🤣🤣
I trained and taught Bruce Lee everything he ever knew.
I'm a real Samurai Warrior
And a Ninja Master that can fly from tree 🌴 to 🌴
Wow! I'm old, but not old enough to have seen Ali except at the end of his career. He was so fast and graceful in his prime. It was like he was floating around the ring, he was so smooth. Such fast hands, too! I don't think I've ever seen a heavyweight with hands that fast. Imagine a prime Ali against a prime Tyson.
Like ali said so many times float like a butterfly sting like a shark i say
After watching this I gotta give it to Ali.. he's just so hard to hit
@@jamespierce8096facts especially when you watch ali vs floyd patterson who also used peekaboo and floyd was like an inch or 2 taller than tyson and he still got whooped
Nobody could beat this version of Ali.
Would have to agree!
You got right
Are you a fan of Bruce Lee? is so please visit my Bruce Lee TH-cam channel and join our community! You will love the videos!
@@CharlesDamianoBLC I'll do that.
@@mikethomas2641 Thank you! Simply click on my picture to get to my Channel! Enjoy!
This, to me, was Ali's most complete fight. Speed, accuracy, foot work, everything was working to perfection and he just overwhelmed the Big Cat.
You mean the shell of the big cat
This has to be Ali at his absolute best
Ali looked magnificent in this fight, but I think it's slightly overrated, due to Williams being a shell of his former self. He was past his prime and had 2 bullets in his body (1 in his kidney, after being shot by a police officer) so Williams condition helped Ali look so good. To me Ali in the first Patterson fight is Ali at his best. No Heavyweight that ever lived could beat that Ali.
@@user-ny2gt7zc7t "2 years ago": True but Ali got back up and proceeded to carve Cooper's face up so severely that if the referee hadn't stepped in he'd have lost an eye.😒😒.
@Ray Smith Yep!!
@Ray Smith Oh wella hella!!
Ali had no prime ,that was ripped by the gouverment
This was Ali at his best ever . IMO ît's almost insane . Normal people can not do that ! Most of people think that boxing is a sport of fighting but Ali show to the world that it could be a Art . Just like a perfect ballet .. for those who know boxing this is like a symphony
I agree with you totally.
one of his most and definitely the most prettiest dancing fights of anybody's boxing career, he put on a true dancing clinic here
I don't think the Big Cat hit Ali but maybe twice, three times at the most, in the meantime Clay/Ali knocked BCW down three or four times before eventually knocking him out.
Oh yeah, Ernie Terrell, don't worry you gonna get the ass whooping of your professional life.
Name him as muhammad ali, not his Name of slave
Williams just wouldn't fight. Ali just intimidated him in the early rounds. I used to think Tyson would have been able to beat Ali. Not so sure about that anymore. Not Ali his prime like here. This was a different breed of fighter in those days. Real craftsman.
Kamal Shariff my guess is a prime Ali wouldn't let Tyson touch him again after feeling his power once
I 100% agree!
Tyson would fight against Ali if D Amato never went to the other side , Tyson was so young and his life was uh ...a dance whit chaos
I mean you never know but that Tyson would be stronger
@@DiablitoKawaii ...Always an excuse, isn't it?
@19:15 a thing of beauty to watch. Back pedaling, no balance lost and still landed with precision and enough power.
This is so right. What made Ali the fighter so great us he lost his vest years
I rewinded that knockdown 3 times his foot was in mid air and he still somehow generated enough power to knock him down ali truly was something else
Yes indeed!
This was not just ALI'S MOST BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE, but the MOST BEAUTIFUL BOXING PERFORMANCE IN HISTORY, BY ANY FIGHTER, PERIOD!
Against a washed up fighter that never answer to punch.
@@Shovelhook A lot of great fighters in their prime fought washed up fighters, but they never displayed this type of grace, speed, and magic in one fight, the way that Muhammad Ali put on for display against Cleveland Williams! Not even close!
This fight is still shown to up and coming amateur boxers, for its technical prowess, foot work, agility and speed.
From 1966 till to this very day, of 2022 were still talking about it, 56 years on.
Still the STANDARD of BOXING EXCELLENCE!
@@albertelazar4069Ali was too small for Fury, Lewis, Bowe, Klitschkos, Tua, Ibabuchi etc
LOL that's a ridiculous comment. This version of Ali beats all those guys within 12 months.@@Mike_Williams32
@@Mike_Williams32 ...Those aforementioned boxers are super-heavyweights. Dense!
Combos were so fluid like poetry in motion :) Footwork was like 'dances with the stars' on its 10 best nights combined. Ali at his finest here! Such a treat to see :)
Thanks for posting! Ali was at his absolute best! The GREATEST!
One of the greatest fights I ever say.Slipping punches,combinations man what a fight.
Muhammad Ali was incredibly good fighter. He was enjoyable in his defence, in his attacking , in his movement, in his running . when he was being hit, he was enjoyable too.
Those who compare Ali with Mayweather as a runner chicken are not right...Ali was an incredible defender but also he has an attack very hard...and he was able to absorb an incredible amount of punches on his body ...mostly on his kidneys...and go ahead without loss speed or legs...he was a complete fighter...genial.
get mayweather out your head clown
@@stevena1467 please piece of crap ...inaugurate your brain first and then try to not compare the greatest Ali with the product of advertising market ... it is , of course: Mayweather. ... Mayweather is a pale shade only if compared with the number 1 ever: Mohamed Ali.
@@juancastillonb mike tyson said many times no body can beat ali
@@saurabhbisht5793 Frazier managed.
This Ali at his best . This is my favorite of Ali the prettiest knock out ever
Had Ali had a good knockout punch he would never have been beaten. But with his great speed and agility he was just remarkable to watch. What a master of the ring!
A real artist
He had a very heavy right hand, to say he didn’t have a good punch is very inaccurate
@@nickfanzo I think what the original commenter was trying to say is that while he was incredibly strong, he never utilized his strength for any heavy/quick knockouts. His fighting style was to wear down his opponents over a series of rounds by means of accumulative pain and cardiopulmonary wear down.
He did have a good knock out punch
When Ali set down on his punches he punched hard. Liston was surprised by his power as much as his speed.
15:25 mark Ali shows his brilliance 🦋🐝👏🏾
This was Ali at his most Imperious. This is the finest any HW has ever boxed.
It's good to see a compassionate stoppage by the ref, especially back in those days. Williams was very brave, but it was only going to go one way that night. Ali like a force of nature.
64-67 Ali would smoke any heavyweight in there prime... Just a master at the peak sucks he lost 3 years of this Ali to the US of A
They took his license not for not going to the vietnam war but because of how he went to war in the ring. They hated how great Ali was
@@rakim6466 they hated he was a black man challenging the white power structure of military dominance...it STILL HOLDS TRUE TODAY
Whatever anyone might say or have said, this is Muhammad Ali's Greatest performance. The Best performance of any professional boxer in history. Hagler/ Hearns three rounds was more brutal, but this was Ali's finest performance. Great fight. Great atmosphere.
fantastic great to hear live original commentary
Ali was a fantastic athlete. some say he didn't punch that hard that's not true. he threw his right with great stretch reflex . that generates into power
Ali had a strong punch, people only say he had a weak punch because he fought some of the strongest punchers boxing ever had to offer. Liston, Foreman, Frazier, Norton, Shavers, Holmes.
All of those fighters would absolutely wipe the floor of any modern boxer besides maybe Mike Tyson in his prime.
This was Muhammad Ali at his Greatest! 🔥
If Joe Fraizer had fought Ali during this time,Ali would have danced circles around Fraizer!
No he would react more to the pressure wich would make the pace crazy what isn't in his favor. Frazier would ko him even faster, don't know. You need to slow that pace against frazier and you better don't fall for his rhythm like foreman did.
@@maximloos3739 this version of ali beat any boxer in history
@@marouentebini3248 no, I think he wouldn't beat Vitali klitschko or lennox Lewis. Ali fought like a tall guy like he was back in the days but they both would make him look like a cruiserweight. They would absolutely oujab him and out muscle him. Ali couldn't even have his style in modern boxing because he isn't the giant anymore.
@@maximloos3739 muhammed ali is heavyweight not Cruiserweight , watch george forman before you talk.
@@marouentebini3248 I know but his style was fighting tall because he was a giant back then, he was like the klitschkos or fury in his Era. How can he fight like a tall guy being much smaller?
The modern hw's would weigh minimum 20 kg more and are much taller. Ali is no inside pressure fighter.
My dream fight is 80s Tyson vs 60s Ali!! Can you imagine Ali dancing from Tyson and tiring Tyson out. I think that's how Ali would fight him, but wow!
Yes
Shit a prime Tyson couldn't even beat buster Douglas
@BlaZe Excalibur I think Floyd is number 1 overrated
@BlaZe Excalibur Tyson was underrated in his prime not overrated.
@@alvilla9659 It didn't prime Tyson, he ended with Spinks fight.
The Prime Ali .. RIP the Greatest .. you will be missed
By far, this is the very best version of Ali, druing this period of his career. This version puts him as one of the all time great heavy's.
That is as perfect a performance as you could ask for, Ali was lethal poor Big Cat totally Outclassed by the GOAT✌️
You almost have to feel sorry for anyone who fought Ali during the mid-60's. It just seems unfair. He was a whirling dervish - must have been like trying to fight a tornado. When they swing at him, all they hit is air!
The greatest , no man could have touched him that night.
Never relized how much the crowed booed Ali when he was introduced at the beginning of the fight!!!! No wonder he came out and turned the big cat to a pussycat
Ikr. He showed him who’s boss there
@@Cixfa all his fights before his force retirement were like this.99% of the crowd went to see him lose
for his brashness, black nationalism, black pride, principled anti-war stance (firmly against the majority consensus and political establishment). and association with what they called "extremist negroes".
He played the “heavy” , he saw the wrestler “Gorgeous George” get the audience riled up and pay money to see him lose , so, Muhammad, bought in the multimillion dollar purses, it was all about chiching $.
this is a racist country more so in 66 what would you expect
This is the greatest display of any heavyweight boxer in history by Muhammad Ali.
Anybody gaves a thumbs down for that fight with mohammad Ali and Cleavin William you are a Jealous of Muhammad Ali He is the best in the whole world.
THE GREATEST
Ali is light on his feet.
I hate it when people keep calling him Clay when he made it known that his True Name that has a meaning is Muhammad Ali
60's Ali would smash any heavyweight in any era
I've heard folks say modern heavyweights would beat this Ali .... Yeah ok hahahah 🤣🤣🤣
In your dreams
@@Shovelhook how?
This was Ali at his very best. I’ve always said that on this day in history he was the greatest fighter ever and unbeatable . Just an amazing display of precision, timing, skill and execution.
Many regard this to be Ali at the peak of his powers, here vs. Big Cat and then he has Terrell to dispatch and Foley...forget if others, before exile.
But the point is that this was the VERY beginning of his prime years, which would be utterly robbed for 3 and a half years. We NEVER saw how good he would indeed have become. That is the ace in the hole when comparing him to other great heavyweights and just fighters in general. What he did in coming back after a 3 and a half year layoff at 28 was just utterly amazing.
MacArthur Clutch I agree with you, friend. Much as I loved the Frazier trilogy, there would not have been need for it, without exile, I would wager.
I TOTALLY respect Joe, for what he was, as a person and great fighter and champion, but the truth is, Joe had everything going for him and was at the very peak of his powers, that first fight. Ali, gone 43 months, just two quick tune ups, one going 5 rounds stopped on cuts. The court bills, for the Supreme Court battle and his divorce, forcing his hand some, too early ideally for facing a Joe Frazier after such a layoff. Joe also had the added benefit of the hatred to fuel his fire, for all of Ali's promoting and subtext, i.e. The Man wanted a less militant champion, etc.
No disrespect to Joe, but he was never the same or close, after the first Ali fight. He had some health issues, true, and one bad eye, but he fought two low level fights only in the next couple years, his manager wanted him to retire, etc. Rather dangled Ali for a spell, who fought 10-13 times in the same time frame, or between their rematch. The boxing powers finally mandated a Frazier defense against Foreman. He of course showed incredible bravery, and his last great fight was the third with Ali, my favorite of all time, a tremendous warrior. But without Exile, Ali would have quit from boredom, like as not, at some point, if not squeezed utterly dry by the Nation Of Islam.
No exile, and what you say is true, very comparable record and reign, to Joe Louis. He was nearly unTOUCHABLE, pre exile. Norton, one and done, as well, though he would always be his rubik's cube, as to style, he could have stayed outside, won by being on his feet, his bicycle the whole night.
Best to you.
+Nun Ya PLEASE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT that Cleveland Williams had a bullet in his back when he got shot by Police - Williams is not the same fighter
HOME Bellinfante Yes, of course, in all fairness (I am a complete Ali buff). Ali asked his people or thought aloud about it, prefight, and was told the best thing for him to do for Cleveland would be to take him out early, mercifully. THis is why he did what he did. Mr. Williams gets major credit for his efforts.
But Ali was a thing of beauty here.
+HOME Bellinfante
Yea, but Liston beat Cleveland Williams before Williams was shot, and Ali made Liston seem slow in his first fight with him.
Have you seen the two Williams-Liston fights. Those were two rough and tumble heavyweights and Ali handled them both. He MUST be the GREATEST!!!
"He had a reputation for hittin hard, but he couldn't find nothing to hit"--Ali.
Man if ever time and space travel would be invented, that astrodome on that night would be the first place I'd go to. Those people were unbelievably lucky to have witnessed such a refined Ali, live.
Might wanna load up on some Berkshire Hathaway stock while you're back in the 60s
Best Ali nobody could beat this lean hungry strong version these were Ali’s greatest professional years
Ali-what an athlete!
Majestic.! Thank you. Bless up 👊
Late great martial artist prophet Bruce Lee said Muhammad Ali is in another class by himself. Muhammad Ali is a heavyweight with hand speed and feet movements like a welterweight with heavyweight power. That is a unique status for Muhammad Ali.
If u want to learn boxing skills, This is the best video to learn u ever found
Greatest fighter of all time ✍️
No other fighter in history had so much class and elegance. Besides its obvious, devestating effectiveness, Ali's boxing style is a thing of beauty. An artistic performance of the highest degree
My god!!!..what a beautiful footwork...Simply beautiful...👏👏👏👏. God bless the greatest ...
Boxing in its perfection. Can I say " what a beauty " if I can. This was boxing lesson 101,no contest from Cleveland, it was Ali at his best. He was surely the greatest of all time. He lives !
This Ali vs '71 Frazier, I wonder how that first fight would've actually turned out. Or how about this Ali vs 70's Norton, or this Ali vs Holmes. IMO Ali would've never lost
To the guy with the Microphone his name is Muhammad Ali.
The word is this was mohammad Ali's masterpiece performance I've never watched it before I was 3 years old at the time of this fight so this will be a thrill
This is still no prime ali , the gouverment ripped the real prime from him when he was 26 27 28 28,5 years old
Yes!...It is accepted, that a fighter slowly declines in his abilities around the age of 29-30...Yet Ali re-invented himself, and fought at 215-220lbs in the 2nd half of his career. He was a different boxer by then, but still graceful, well-trained, etc. I just wish that he had retired after humiliating Big George! His body had taken a lot of punishment during those comeback years, and he likely brought on his physical ailments by continuing to fight a couple more years.
Ali fought some of the hardest punchers in boxing history: Liston, Foreman, Frazier,
The night when the man was UNTOUCHABLE. Its extremely difficult to imagine anyone defeating Ali at this point
The absolute best showing of Muhammad Ali..Too bad the Vietnam Case took away his prime and probably the best years that was yet to come…His best weapon during his first tenure as Champion were his legs…
His speed here is mind blowing
It's really just not fair when Ali throws 12 punches in 5 seconds and hits you with 10. You don't have to have an amazing knockout punch when you hit someone fairly hard in the face that many times they're going down eventually. Unless of course you're a concrete head like Joe Frazier. But then again Joe never fought a prime Ali. That's what was so amazing about him. Even when he wasn't even close to being as good as he was (he literally lost his prime years) , he was still the best.
40k came to boo him, but also to witness Ali just reaching the top of his game. Houston we have a problem...Williams has been neutralized.
Williams looked like he thought he was surrounded hahaha 🤣 8
This version of Muhammad Ali beats anyone in the history boxing or the present.
Uses the entire ring to carve the man up, Ricardo Lopez also excellent at this. Most fighters try and dominate the centre of ring and push opponents backwards, whereas Ali uses the outer perimeters to stick/stab like a matador. Easily beating stronger more powerful men. Skills pay the bills.
Poetry in motion, like watching God box 🙇
Man are you crazy, blasphemous
i have watched boxing from featherweights to heavyweights and no one dances around the ring like ali
i do not understand why no one copies his style. most just stand there and throw punches but Ali floats around the ring controling the fight,. Amazing
Ali was indisputably the GOAT!!The only thing greater was Ali,the human being! God bless him!!
He was “GIFTED”.
@@stevenwerezak4532 he just made mince meat out of very good fighter. Williams had recorded 51 kos entering this fight.
Larry Holmes Thomas hearns sugar ray and many other copied his style
Mohammed Ali c'est de l'art 🥊 je vole comme un papillon 🦋 et je pique comme une abeille 🐝 repose en paix 💔 Mohammed Ali tu as marqué l'histoire de la boxe 🥊 comme personne tu étais le meilleur et tu le restera 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
This man shows the real art of boxing! A beauty boxing demonstration with no equal... this Ali it's one to 1000 years!!! No body could reach that level, than till now!
Ali is the best there was and will be
Ali would throw four or five punch combination with such blistering speed his opponent didn’t see them coming ❤
Ali is great fighter forever Ali speed is amazing love from India love you ali
18:45 "that's the Ali shuffle"
HOLA SOY EDDIE JESÚS DE VZLA. JAMÁS HABRÁ ALGO IGUAL A ESTE FENÓMENO QUE SE LLAMÓ M. ALI INCREÍBLE 😮
People say he dance to much talk too much dancing is not fighting but when you perfect it like ali and sugar ray robinson its really perfecting coordination speed timing and agility in movement he out boxed. and out smart this guy moved with grace and perfect ion once he was able to hit him it was total destruction he knocked him down 4 times. with tremendous speed and power use of whole body he was just slapping this man around no quick knock out or knock down. you got to admire not just a perfected master craft boxer at best but how to create many openings and hit with lighting fast speed actually producing shock this is the greatest performance ever in
boxing you admired an unstoppable force for about 2 minutes who do you think can beat him that night he was really in the zone
Raw talent and showmanship, at his very best here. TBE
Ali on this night was poetry in motion. Knocked Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams out with a punch moving backwards🤷♂️
. Incredible!
I love you Ali
There was never anything like this and never will be again. Hand and foot speed faster than a lightweight but hitting like a heavyweight. No one past or present beats this guy.
Muhammad Ali at his best.
Bastards keep calling him Clay, well Ali doesn't need their respect anyway, he's the GREATEST of all times, and watching him in this fight proves my point for me.
Pour mohamed ali l homme qui nous temp fait rêver merci mr mohamed ali
Roger may weather and others love to say Muhammad Ali doesn’t throw body shots. Those jabs to the body were beautiful. Stopped Cleveland in his tracks. Muhammad’s combination punching was on full display here. Amazing.
Gotta give it to Williams. He came out in that third round swinging despite surely knowing he was just gonna get badly beat up, and was still standing ready to fight at the end when the ref had the sense to stop it. Ali is the GOAT, absolutely no contest.
He should have been swinging from the start.
Jim Brown with the in depth commentary. How did they let Williams come out for round 3?
I am kind of new to boxing. I can see the difference in Ali here to when he was older. His speed is brutal. Frightening for anyone to face him here. Looks like torture in there!
Ali's best performance
Ali at the zenith of his fighting prowess.
I don't see any boxer able to beat this Ali. Not Frazier,Norton or anyone. The speed stamina combinations just the complete boxer not to mention his perfect chin.
Tyson says this is when Ali was beating fighters with strictly skill versus psyching them out with his words. Which takes skills too
Saved by the bell. "You OK, Cleveland? Can you get back out there this round?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, coach. Just give me the ball, and I promise I'll score this time." 😂
King of thE ring🎉❤
Ali at his absolute prime. The first knockdown at about 19:14 was a solid right that caught Williams leaning in, not unlike the "Phantom Punch" that took out Liston in Ali-Liston II.
Ali at 24 ? You kidding me ? Nobody could stand his very powerful punch. No way. Imagine the energy the shape he was in ??? Ooohh.