I don't agree with the guy's comment and I'm a huge fan of Ali. I've read his book and he comments on alot of his 'misdeeds'.
But - I can see why people sometimes see it that way, Ali was a fully concious guy spouting out tonnes of rubbish to annoy and irritate people - he was the gobby smart ass.
On the other hand, everyone knew Tyson was crazy and was hardly rational at times.
I to can see why some might have found Ali a gobby smartass, but that was positive self affirmations. Ali once commented that “At home I am a nice guy: but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far.”
Let us remember how Ali (Cassius Clay) was at the weigh in before his fight with Liston, the big bad Tyson of his time, Liston had never had a opponent act 'crazy' like Ali before, Liston lost the psychological war, wheras the big brooding Liston normally intimidated his opponents even before entering the ring.
So Alis verbosity had primarily 2 purposes,
Psychological: self affirmation, positive mental attitude, wind up the opponent, unsettle the opponent, gain a psychological advantage over his opponents.
Financial: publicising the fight, creating the some pay to see me win, some pay to see me lose, but they all pay ethos, Ali largely through his verbosity created immense money both for himself, his opponents and the promotors, Ali was a showman he talked the talk yes because he walked the walk also.
Please do not latch onto Tysons comments being those of a crazy man, yes he had psychological issues but he made his comments not whilst being psychotic, he said them of his own free will and volition.
Tysons words were those of a bully, but Tyson had earned millions because of his demeanour, his unpredictability and of being the 'bully' in and out of the ring, so had no wish or reason to not be this persona.
The only black Heavyweight Champion who made money (though did not keep much of it) by being a clean living, god fearing, giving the impression that he knew his place sort of guy, who did not court publicity, did not get photographed in situations with white ladies etc was Joe Louis, but this was stage managed to get as far away as possible from Jack Johnsons legacy of perceived arrogance, race issues etc.
Both Ali and Tyson will go down in the annals of boxing history both for their words as well as their ring exploits.