Muhammad Ali approved of Will Smith’s portrayal in the 2001 film, recognizing the extreme lengths Smith went to become him.

Before the Oscar controversy and the headlines surrounding his personal life soured his public image, Will Smith had long established himself as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and bankable stars. From his early days as a rapper to becoming a household name on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith’s career has spanned decades and genres, with jaw-dropping range.

In 2001, he took on one of his most challenging roles in his entire career, and that was portraying boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann’s critically acclaimed biopic Ali. The real Muhammad Ali himself was moved by Smith’s portrayal.

So, with all due respect to Sylvester Stallone and his iconic Rocky legacy, it might be time to pass the title. After all, if Muhammad Ali gave his nod of approval, Will Smith may just be the best boxer Hollywood has ever seen, on screen, at least.

This is what Muhammad Ali thought of Will Smith’s performance in Ali! 

On The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2001, Will Smith and Muhammad Ali shared the stage and a bit of friendly sparring. As Ali approached, the two squared up with lighthearted boxing poses, Smith jokingly staggered as if he’d taken a punch, and the crowd laughed before the two embraced.

Will Smith in and as Ali | Credits:
Regarding Smith, this is what Ali said (via The Hollywood Reporter),

He scared me. He’s not as dumb as he looks. It’s a humble feeling.

Will Smith gave everything he had to become Muhammad Ali on screen, and it showed. His performance thus didn’t just land him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, it earned him something even more meaningful: the approval of “The Greatest ” himself.

After months of intense training, studying Ali’s voice, movements, and mindset, Smith stepped into the ring not just as an actor, but as a tribute to the icon. As in the same Oprah interview, he said,

The champ looked at me and gave me the nod that I did a good job. I worked as hard as I could possibly have worked.

And when Ali gave him that subtle nod of approval, it was all the validation he needed. Smith knew he’d done justice to a legend by working harder than ever before and completely transforming himself into the champ. But it wasn’t easy….

How Will Smith pushed his limits to become Muhammad Ali!
Will Smith didn’t just play Muhammad Ali, he practically became him. For his starring role in Ali, Smith went through one of the most intense physical and mental transformations Hollywood has ever seen.

He packed on 30 pounds of pure muscle, trained like a real boxer, and even adopted the same strict lifestyle as the champ, down to early mornings, high-protein diets, intense sessions, and zero shortcuts.

Under the guidance of top boxing coach Darrell Foster, Smith wasn’t just learning to act like a fighter, he was training for real. In an interview with The Express (via JazzyJeffFreshPrince.com), he revealed,

To understand the sacrifices that Muhammad Ali went through to be the greatest boxer ever Will decided he had to go through it all as a fighter – the pain, sweat and tears, the dieting, abstaining from s-x and the intense discipline

Muhammad Ali and Sylvester Stallone at the 1977 Oscars | Credits: Oscars.org
He further explained.

I wasn’t just training Will for a movie. I was preparing him for a world title bout. My objective was to teach him how to fight, period. I wanted to instill in him a boxer’s instinct. Will never once backed off, He never gave in. Even when he was hurting, he kept on going. There were times he went home and cried. He didn’t know if he could take all the beating, month after month. But he kept coming back. He never let it show.

He took real punches, ran miles daily, and studied Ali’s style down to the tiniest detail. His commitment was so serious, he even trained in high altitudes and learned to fight with his hands tied behind his back to master footwork.

And this wasn’t just movie magic, Smith earned his bruises. From broken thumbs to battered ribs, he took the hits and kept going, all to channel the heart and soul of Ali.

By the time the cameras rolled, Smith had fully immersed himself in the role, capturing not only Ali’s iconic moves in the ring but also his spirit, grit, and unshakable confidence. The end result was a gift to audiences, one that people are still talking about to this day!