who was the greatest: Muhammad ALi or Sugar Ray Robinson?

[bigragu]

"If He was a heavyweight I think he'd beat me" - Ali, speaking about Ray Robinson

Ray's career spanded 30 years...won fighter of the the year in three different decades...was 121-1... beat lamotta 4 out of 5 times...finished 179-19... 15 of those losses cam after he was 38..10 of them after forty years old...the one against maxim came after he was winning but passed ut from heat exhaustion...had a 92 fight win streak...IMO this isn't even close....

Esp when Ali admitted that he'd would have lost to Ray

Awesome post!!!!! this is the kid of posts I'm expecting to see from you!!!

[bigragu]

Deof SRR, Ali said it himself, and that's one guy who's never unduely modest
A lot is said about Ali's principles, but don't forget that when SRR was fighting, the mob controlled boxing, and the only one's who made it had to join with them. This is somehing that SRR and LaMotta refused to do, and as such had to force their ways to the top, despite not getting the fights they should have. This is the main reason they fought each other so much, there was nobody else!!
Also SRR was a true gentleman in the ring. Always respectful to his opponent's even in defeat. I would also say that he had everything as a fighter. I always felt Ali wasn't too heavy a hitter, something he said himself in the run up to the Foreman fight, "I don't hit too hard, but I'll out box him". (or something similar )

I don't know about that Hitting hard comment...My cousin Luke Capuano had an exhibition with Ali..Luke said speed is power and that he'd never been hit harder by anyone....also got a black eye from Ali...I joked with him and asked if he had Ali autograph it and he said he already did that with his fist...lol

[El Kabong]

Ray Robinson was better...what if Ali fought George Foreman as many times as Robinson fought Lamotta?

[undefeated]

i say Muhammad Ali

b4 his exile he was impossible 2 beat

when he cameback he was still almost impossible 2 beat
beat the indestructible sonny liston 2x-

beat the indestructible George foreman and ko his a**(the only man 2 do so)
beat frazier 2x
beat norton 2x

all of those fights he wasnt even in his prime---imagine if a prime ali existed!

ray robinson however was impossible 2 beat--the only time he could get licked was when he was an old man at like 44

if ali reached a prime i believe he would have been the greatest p4p fighter 2 ever live---thats y i pick ali

this is a very hard choice

Did he really beat Norton twice or did he lose at least 2 or possibly all 3

well ali won the second and third time---however most people feel ali got a gift decision on their third encounter

[sexydarin]

There are no "the greatest" fighters. Every boxing fan likes different styled fighters. I love the Mike Tyson, Arturro Gatti, Mickey Ward type fighter. I have a soft spot for action packed explosive fighters. Eric Morales. Manny paquio, Antonio Barrera, Floyd Patterson. I could go on and on. To me, these type of fighters are my favorites. There are no "the greatest" fighters in my opinion. Every one of the great boxers loss to what was considered lesser opponents. Rocky Marciano only finished undefeated because he fought mostly bums and past champions way past there prime. But i still like Rocky Marciano. I just wished he had proved himself more by fighting top ranked fighters in their prime.

[cockey cockney]

There are no "the greatest" fighters. Every boxing fan likes different styled fighters. I love the Mike Tyson, Arturro Gatti, Mickey Ward type fighter. I have a soft spot for action packed explosive fighters. Eric Morales. Manny paquio, Antonio Barrera, Floyd Patterson. I could go on and on. To me, these type of fighters are my favorites. There are no "the greatest" fighters in my opinion. Every one of the great boxers loss to what was considered lesser opponents. Rocky Marciano only finished undefeated because he fought mostly bums and past champions way past there prime. But i still like Rocky Marciano. I just wished he had proved himself more by fighting top ranked fighters in their prime.

He fought everyone who was anyone at the time. Thats all the man could have possibly done, he gave in to increasing pressure to give up boxing from familly etc. Lets not turn this thread into a Rocky hating one ey guys..........

[LBSCFC]

in terms of pure fighting ability robinson was the best. he had bravery, speed, grace, agility and power. he also scored the most perfect knockout ive ever seen (fullmer II).

[Weebels]

There are no "the greatest" fighters. Every boxing fan likes different styled fighters. I love the Mike Tyson, Arturro Gatti, Mickey Ward type fighter. I have a soft spot for action packed explosive fighters. Eric Morales. Manny paquio, Antonio Barrera, Floyd Patterson. I could go on and on. To me, these type of fighters are my favorites. There are no "the greatest" fighters in my opinion. Every one of the great boxers loss to what was considered lesser opponents. Rocky Marciano only finished undefeated because he fought mostly bums and past champions way past there prime. But i still like Rocky Marciano. I just wished he had proved himself more by fighting top ranked fighters in their prime.

Agree compleatly. But I still say Ali, Because he changed the face of boxing throughout the world, and because he said so.