Ali was a top fighter who went on far too long. I am too young to have seen him fight at his peak but looking back at videos of his fights he was the greatest ever to lace up the gloves. I think if it wasn't for Ali boxing wouldn't have been as big as it was all over the world everyone loved the guy. If it wasn't for Ali we wouldn't of had the Haglers , Hearns , Durans and Leonards of the world. It is a shame that he stayed too long in the ring as I think if he didn't stay fighting he would be still involved in the sport someway.
A book for you to get which is worth a read is Street Fighting Man by Paddy Monaghan it is basically about Monaghans time around Ali and there friendship over the years. He tells about people who tried to screw Ali over the years. I dont think we will ever see a fighter like Ali ever again a 1 off he had the talk and the skills and everyone loved the guy.