Ali wasn’t as imposing as George Foreman had been two years earlier. While certainly louder, he also seemed softer and less threatening. While being in the ring with George Foreman was too scary to contemplate, I looked at Ali and thought he might be beatable. I had bulked up a little from high school and had a good three inches on Ali with comparable reach. Any thoughts of beating Ali evaporated when he flicked that left jab in my direction. After the fact, I felt the gust of air that originated an inch from my chin as he withdrew his fist. It took a few seconds to register what happened because I had never seen him throw the punch.