Thread: why muhammad ali is the greatest boxer of all time

easy answer he beat the most biggest names and had the best opposition.

SRR would have 2 come second--his record is better and fought big names --but ali beat "indestructible" fighters and just overall better opposition---ali had better oppostion than any other great--he has the best resume in boxing history!!

Originally Posted by undefeated

easy answer he beat the most biggest names and had the best opposition.

SRR would have 2 come second--his record is better and fought big names --but ali beat "indestructible" fighters and just overall better opposition---ali had better oppostion than any other great--he has the best resume in boxing history!!

agreed prime george foreman was an absolute montser, and ali showed tremendous hart and courage in that bout, even when ali was past his best

Disagree srr could fight on the inside outside wotever was apart from he cut the complete fighter and he beat many good fighter when he was in his late 30's ,
I dont think Ali was even second best of all time personally.

Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

Disagree srr could fight on the inside outside wotever was apart from he cut the complete fighter and he beat many good fighter when he was in his late 30's ,
I dont think Ali was even second best of all time personally.

I agree bro, I rank Ali @ 3rd. Behind Robinson & Armstrong!

Something you need to realize: Not only did ali dominate the best era of boxing, bit he did so past his prime.

Originally Posted by Punisher136

Something you need to realize: Not only did ali dominate the best era of boxing, bit he did so past his prime.

So did Robinson... the welterweight Sugar Ray was possibly the best Robinson there was. The older middleweight version was still able to win the championship 5 times!

He was more than a boxer.He championed african american rights in the 60s and is a symbol of courage and dignity despite his condition today.

Originally Posted by undefeated

easy answer he beat the most biggest names and had the best opposition.

SRR would have 2 come second--his record is better and fought big names --but ali beat "indestructible" fighters and just overall better opposition---ali had better oppostion than any other great--he has the best resume in boxing history!!

don't forget, alot of the great fighters ali fought became great for fighting him.

Ali is my favorite of all time. He was a Kawasaki Ninja surrounded by Harley Choppers. heh
I always want to convince myself that he's the best... or others.
But Robinson had a comeback in his late age too, even older than Ali.
I think 36, he knocked out Gene Fullmer with a perfect left hook.
He even almost defeated the light hw champion past this age, if it wasn't for the heat.
Common thought is that the little guys are supposed to age faster than the big heavies.
But Ali couldn't do anything by age 36, just barely get by
Jimmy Young, Spinks... I don't know how Ken Norton wasn't able to knock him out by then.

Ali could dance better than Robinson, IMO, but Ali was a freaking fast for his size compared to the usually slow plodding big guys. Robinson hit harder pound for pound. Maybe the hardest puncher out of the dancers in boxing history? Ali had the best psychological game. Robinson went to the body, Ali rarely did. Robinson was better at rematches. Ali had to come back from a three and a half year suspension... and did beyond any expectation despite his slower feet and less hand-foot synchronism. Robinson had his Jake LaMotta and Ali had Frazier (to be fair, Jake was naturally much bigger than Sugar, as opposed to Frazier being around the same weight as Ali... ehh but later Jake would complain of weight draining at middleweight). Robinson was technically sound, Ali was unconventional sometimes downright wrong (example: Sugar had a great left hook, Ali had no left hook, heh) Ali's rope-a-dope was insane, therefore genius in defeating a Achillies type George Foreman. Despite his failure at an aptitude test, I think Ali was special in the brain activity department. Robinson was the most intelligent boxer in boxing, but Ali just thought different... I mean the rope-a-dope eventually lead to his demise and parkinson's desease. Ali said that Robinson was The Greatest Pound for Pound, but he also said that Joe Louis was The Greatest. Ali learned from Robinson, but is it lesser of him to steal from other fighters or is it more of him to learn from the masters? IMO nobody, including little guys, looked as graceful as Ali. Robinson moved up in weight, successfully facing meaner, tougher, harder hitting, bigger guys. He didn't duck anybody in a golden age of boxing.

I once read that Jim Jacobs measured and compared the speed of both Jab's. Both fighters did all we could ask of them and more. I just think Ali was unusual inside the ring, not outside.

As a heavy he probably was its debateable at lower weights but you cant argue with it thats for sure he is in the top 3 pound for pound no doubt and I dont even like the guy

Best hw of all time but not the best of all time imo if he would of lost Young fight and 2 out of 3 in Norton fights would he still be recognized as the greatest ?? because i thought he lost those fights and so do alot of others.

Face it kids,the Ali/Robinson debate is pointless,those guys are totally beyond the looking glass,6 of one,half a dozen of the other
Ali was an unreal combination of everything,endurance,speed,power(sorely underated there),and footwork.
He was an icon for almost 20 years,he transended the sport like noone since

couldnt fight on the inside , impact because of glamour division , and the war thing , best heavyweight probably , good as Robinson............ not even close for me .

1 SRR
2 Henry Armstrong
3 Willie Pep
4 Muhammad Ali

Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

couldnt fight on the inside , impact because of glamour division , and the war thing , best heavyweight probably , good as Robinson............ not even close for me .

Yes he could,he didnt do it often,because he had superior footwork and reach,why give it up if you dont have to?
That would be stupid,if you can hit at range,and the footwork to stay there,why not stay there if you can