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The reason why Muhammad Ali is considered to be the greatest boxer ever was not only because of his in-ring skills. He was also an icon during the 60s and 70s, shaping the socio-political landscape of the United States and being a huge part of the civil rights movement in the country.

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Many people tend to use these accomplishments outside the ring to tout him as the greatest. However, Ali’s in-ring skills were far from ordinary. He was one of the most talented boxers of his generation, possessing the speed of a lightweight while competing in the heavyweight division.

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This was on perfect display during his exhibition fight against Michael Dokes in 1977. The People’s Champ put on a clinic in the match also giving boxing one of its most iconic moments. Ali dodged an incredible 22 punches in 10 seconds, using his impeccable head movement while he was on the ropes.

This moment has lived with the sport even after all these years as UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal recently shared this clip on his Facebook page.

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He claimed that this was the reason why Ali was considered the greatest of all time. Moreover, fans were also quick to react to this iconic moment.

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Fans react to Muhammad Ali dodging 22 punches in 10 seconds

One fan hilariously stated that Dokes could have landed some body shots instead of aiming for the head. “Body shots would’ve landed.” he wrote. Another fan claimed that this was the funniest moment in the history of boxing with Ali taunting his opponent after dodging the punches. “Funniest fkn sht in boxing history… the face + waste shake= greatness” he wrote. Moreover, one fan even brought another boxing legend, Floyd Mayweather, into this and stated that he could never replicate this. “Mayweather would never do such thing and he thinks he’s better.”

Read More: ‘Savage’: Jorge Masvidal Reacts to ‘Vicious’ Fourth-Round Knockout by Former NFL Rb

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Another fan hilariously compared this Donald Trump dodging ‘witch hunts. “Looks like Trump dodging all them witch hunts,” he wrote. However, one fan stated that Ali dodged the punches while holding the ropes which was illegal in boxing. “Illegally holding the ropes. If he hadn’t he couldn’t have moved so quickly.” he wrote.

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Ali was a pioneer in the sport whose impact on the sport cannot be quantified. His greatness outside the ring is unmatched by any other boxer who came after him while his in ring-skills were also on par with the best ever. This combination of excellence both in and out of the ring turned him into an icon who is revered even after all these years.

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Written by

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Sahil Sood

1,864 Articles

Sahil Sood is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in covering live events and core sports. Sahil holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has authored over 1300 articles at EssentiallySports. His coverage of Sylvester Stallone's training with Earnie Shavers was widely praised for its depth and insight. As a practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu and a passionate fan of combat sports, Sahil's love for the sport shines through in his writing. His favorite bout, Roberto Duran vs 'Sugar' Ray Leonard, is a testament to his appreciation for the all-time classics and his deep understanding of the technical aspects of boxing. Aside from his writing, Sahil's life revolves around his training for national tournaments, reflecting the same dedication and discipline that he brings to his work as a boxing writer.

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Gurjyot Singh Dadial

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