Muhammad Ali was the Elvis Presley of the ring with his good looks ( he calls himself pretty and there''s no boxer then as now who has got a prettier face ) Ali would usually show his unmarked face after his fights and would ask the press and the adoring fans, " Ain't I pretty for a boxer?", Ali was fashionable too as he sported a hippie goatee and a trimmer version of the Afro hairdo in the 70s He also carried himself well in his fashionable colorful robes and fighting trunks and boxing shoes laced with tassles.
More importantly, outside the ring, he was/is very, articulate, had/has,colorful character and friendlly and warm winning personality . He was very approachable and mingled with the crowd ( I witnessed that personally when he came to Manila for his historic 3rd fight with Joe Frazier ). He had an entourage with him but not the type that Robinson had in his heydays.
Ali, although he acknowledged the influence of Robinson to his boxing style, may have purposely made himself a more accessible, friendly and open boxing champion than Sugar Ray because he himself in his biography related of an instance where he as a young boxing fan was waved away by Robinson as he was seeking his autograph. " Sorry, kid, I just don't have the time", Robinson supposedly told him.
Robinson was suave as the classic boxing champion but Ali was and is more suave as the People's Boxing champion.
Sugar Ray Robinson. Ali tried to emulate Sugar Ray's style to some degree.
Pound for pound, there's not one fighter I wouldn't match him up with.
It was Sugar Ray Robinson. You only got to hit Sugar when he wanted to be hit. He was so quick and defensive that right when you threw a punch there was one from sugar coming right at your face and there was no stopping him.
Analyst use to joke sugar ray would go in the ring with his hair gelled and would leave the ring with it perfect, on the other hand muhammad ali unorthodox leaning back style was just so amazing as he judged speed and distance to almost perfection.
