Oh, I do think the shuffle had tactical advantages beyond showing off. It's demoralizing to the opponent, it serves as a distraction, and it's so unorthodox tha

Oh, I do think the shuffle had tactical advantages beyond showing off. It's demoralizing to the opponent, it serves as a distraction, and it's so unorthodox that it momentarily leaves opponents wondering what's coming next. He frequently threw (and landed) off of a shuffle, even if not to devastating effect. But, I agree that it would drive most trainers nuts for any other boxer. And, yeah, Ali's gifts and confidence made it possible for him to get away with a lot of the kind of stuff that would drive trainers crazy (including Dundee early on). For, instance, consistently carrying his hands so low violated a Golden Rule of boxing and keeping the hands up is one of the first things kids are taught about the sport. Later, he fashioned the rope a dope and other techniques to compensate for his then diminished speed. Kind of reminds me of Bruce Lee. Improvise. Create. Take what your opponent gives you.