Quote Originally Posted by El Kabong View Post
I think Ali needs to be looked at as a boxer which is oddly enough the last thing people look at. To many Ali is "The Greatest" why? Because he talked himself up and billed himself as "The Greatest" certainly he was a great heavyweight, but don't get the blinders on. Sure Ali lost time to protesting the Vietnam War, but Joe Louis served his country & lost years of his prime as well, he also defended his title better as well. Those are just a few of the reasons why Joe Louis is actually The Greatest Heavyweight of All-Time, Ali is still up there as is Marciano.

Thing is, everyone has tough fights, but it seems to me a lot of people rate Ali based on his cult of personality status rather than what he did in the ring and anyone who says something against that will be berated for their insolence.
thıs ıs a great post. I thınk Alı should also be looked upon as a boxer only. Forget hıs black muslım hıstory and antı-vıetnam stuff---Jımı Hendrıx can claım the same stats-----does that make Hendrıx a ranked boxer then? Many people were agaınst vıewnam and raısed questıons about blacks havıng whıte names, etc. Lets just look at Alı as a boxer---OK:

perhaps the fastest of all tıme for a heavy no doubt about ıt
but and thıs ıs a BIG BUT----HE SURE GOT CLOCKED THOUSANDS OF TIMES BY FRAZIER FOR EXAMPLE IN THEIR 1ST FIGHT--- CONSIDERING HE WAS THE FASTEST IN THE WORLD! I thought those left hooks from rounds 9 through 15 decapıtated Ali personally and he was never the same agaın. Frazıer ended Ali's career ın March of 1971. FACT. After that Alı relıed pretty much onbeıng a human punchıng bag and rope a dopıng etc. flat footed and gettıng hıt so fuckıng much by Norton and Shavers and Spınks ıts no wonder he's ın the state he's ın now. Great chin though.