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Thomas Riley's avatar

This was a truly moving tribute to a great man. Thanks.

I don’t know if you’ve ever fought. I have — but quit because I lacked talent.

Styles make fights — which you can see in the Ali/Foreman/Frazier fights. Ali beat Foreman, Foreman beat Frazier… but Frazier was the chief threat against Ali.

Also, competition is what makes a fighter great. Ali wouldn’t have been Ali without his great opponents. Same is true of both Sugar Rays. Floyd Mayweather is a fine fighter — and he may be the smartest fighter ever. (Lennox Lewis is also really smart.) But he’s never faced real competition. One of the things that makes Ali a hero is that he was willing to let George Foreman hit him. Who else had that kind of courage?

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Michael R. Burch's avatar

I never boxed except a few "light" rounds as a boy.

I preferred less dangerous sports like baseball, basketball, cricket and football.

I was a marble shark in my youth and a pool shark as a young man and into my thirties.

I agree about great opponents making great boxers. Ali never dodged anyone, never backed down. His win over Foreman cemented that fact that he was "The Greatest" for me.

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