I think Ali has to go down as the biggest and most famous sports star ever. I think some of that has to go down to what he did outside of the ring as much as what he achieved in it. His converting to Sunni Islam and subsequent name change, his refusal to fight in the vietnam war...etc...The list could go on. He's not just a sporting icon but an icon to those who don't follow boxing or sport in general.
I'm a huge football fan too and Pele is without doubt the biggest football player ever and comes a close 2nd to Ali for me. I don't think that really applies today though between boxing and football. There's no doubt players like Rooney, Terry, Gerrard and Lampard are bigger and more well known than someone like Haye. Lets not forget Haye could have walked down most streets in England two years ago and probably go unnoticed by most people.
Lets not forget that Haye only has a couple of fights a year so that will also increase interest as and when he does fight. If Man.U, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea only played football twice a year then I'm sure the figures would be higher than what Haye would ever get.
England in the World Cup Final would piss all over a Haye fight in terms of viewing and national interest. Football will always be the biggest sport in England and ultimately everything else comes 2nd.
On the Lewis-Gazza & Cooper - Charlton debate I have to say that Gazza and Charlton are more famous than either boxer. Again Gazza probably more so for his antics off the field than his anything else. Lewis was a lot less controversial and for that I think Gazza is probably more well known (difficult not to be bias here and say Lewis as he's one of my favourite boxers). Charlton is England's record goal scorer and won the World Cup. Not to mention he was in the Munich plane disaster so I think that alone makes him more famous. How many young people would really know who Cooper is? I think he's more a generation ago. A lot of older people would know our 'enry but I'm sure if you asked younger people they might ask, who? It's all subjective really and I'm just talking a load of bollocks!!![]()


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