Quote:
Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger
I know a lot of older people who don't like the athletes, or types of athletes, that you named but loved Ali. He was different than all the boisterous, over the top arrogant dbags that we see so often nowadays.
He was a showman but he also backed up his cockiness. Let's also not forget that Ali was quite the influential social figure. He was often very anti establishment.
He wasn't just some over the top jerk who disrespected is opponents and fans.
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I'm afraid that's how he was regarded with hindsight. And it's tied up with civil rights movement and social change. When Clay/Ali ascended the summit of the boxing world, he was roundly disliked by the media and the public. The first Clay vs Liston fight was described as "the most popular fight since Hitler and Stalin—180 million Americans rooting for a double knockout." He wasn't really a popular figure until the 70s.