Is it just a cliche to say that Muhammad Ali was the greatest?

Question

Who in your opinion was the greatest heavyweight champion of them all?

Answer 1

No, it's a cliche when people call Mike Tyson the greatest of all time.

Answer 2

I rate Ali very highly.

But, ill play devils advocate and state the case against.

Ali won the title against an ageing but still dangerous Liston. There was controversy in both fights, many believe the Mafia were involved in Liston losing.

Alis defences in the 1960's were against average opposition such as Brian London and Ernie Terrell, or guys who were past their best such as Cleveland Williams, Zora Foley and Henry Cooper. He struggled with Karl Mildenburger.

Ali was badly hurt by Cooper, and probably saved by the bell in their first fight. Cooper would only be a Cruiserweight today.

When he came back, he was battered by a peak Joe Frazier in their first fight.

Many people think he actually lost all three Ken Norton fights.

He also got what many feel was a lucky decision against Jimmy Young.

Ali also never came close to stopping Joe Bugner or Ernie Shavers.

Ali defended against some very poor opposition such as Richard Dunn, Jean Pierre Coopmans, Chuck Wepner and Alfredo Evangelista.

And lost to a poor fighter in Leon Spinks!

Ali was also in some boring fights, Ernie Terrell, Floyd Patterson, Joe Bugner, Chuck Wepner, Alfredo Evangelista and Jimmy Young were real yawnathons.

How many really good heavies were there in Ali's era, Frazier, Foreman and Norton only!

Fighters like Shavers, Lyle, Bugner, Quarry, Bonavana etc were good, but not great.

Ali also avoided fighting Norton a fourth time, as well as Larry Holmes.....thus he was stripped of the WBC title.

Ali's comeback was unsuccessful, losing badly to Larry Holmes and then Trevor Berbick.

Throughout his career, Ali was usually the naturally bigger fighter, and he made his name beating mostly smaller, lighter men...the exceptions were George Foreman and Joe Bugner.

Ali would have been too small to beat a much bigger guy with reat skills and punch such as Lennox Lewis.

Answer 3

cassius clay has got to have been the best , not a cliche'

Answer 4

There are two determining factors when you evaluate a fighters greatness. #1 The level of competition (who you beat) or how long you dominate your division.

Ali held the title from 1965 till the goverment took it away in 1968. He regained it in 1974 till 1978. He lost 3 yrs due to his draft situation. They may have been his best years.

As far as who he beat Liston, Frazier and Foreman are considered 3 guys that qualify in most historians top 10 all time heavyweights. His record is 5-1 vs those men. As for as "who he fought" Marciano never fought anybody rated as high as these three men, except for Joe Louis, but Joe was well past his prime. Rocky did dominate in what is considered a "down" era by historians.

Joe Louis (not Lewis) would probably be the other man that can claim the title of the greatest! He dominated a competitve era for 12 yrs.

As far as Mike Tyson, he didn't dominate for more than 3yrs

and he didn't beat any great fighters in their prime. He could punch, but Ali had no problem with other great punchers like Liston, Frazier, Foreman, Lyle and Shavers.

Most of them fought Ali after his 3yr layoff when he slowed down a little. Before the layoff it was much harder to hit him cleanly! There's NO way Tyson loses to Douglas at 24yrs old and beats a 24 yr old Ali!

Ali KO'd a prime Foreman, Holyfield went 12 tough rounds with Foreman 17 yrs later! The same Holyfield that beat Tyson badly twice!

For those who never got a good look at Ali's prime. Go to youtube & punch in Ali vs Cleveland Williams or any fight in the 60's. Notice his hand and fought speed. It was freaky for a man his size. Also notice the head movement, something not nearly as practiced by the heavies of today!

Answer 5

to impossible to define,but ali in his prime and tyson in his prime,ali would have to dance for twelve rounds and probally win on points.but if tyson would of caught him with those devastasting left right combinations lights out ali.tysons devastastng left hook creates so much power it would ko ali.if you think who would'nt you get in the ring with,there's your awnser.tyson also posses awsome boxing skills aswell but that seems to be always overlooked due to his nature.

Answer 6

In his prime I believe he can beat any heavyweight because of his speed.

Answer 7

He was good, but who did he fight? None of them were any good as boxing was in a decline when he was champ.

The Rocky M never lost and he fought the best in the world while boxing had the greatest fighters like Joe Lewis, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezard Charles. The Rock was and is the greatest and Joe Lewis would have knocked Ali out, no one hit Ali like Lewis or Rocky could.

Answer 8

Bruno - For comedy value if not ability.

Answer 9

why?? he was the greatest boxer of all time!!! who else can you tell me that has a record like him and can fight as good and as fast as him? The world will never forget him as he is the greatest boxer ever lived!!!

Answer 10

Mohammad Ali is definitely one of the greatsest boxers of all time. I think that it's not fair to recognise one boxer as the best when there are definately alot more that were as good as hm. I thin that it's very disrespectful.

Answer 11

Ali is the best heavy weight BOXER i have ever seen and i feel privileged to have seen him box, no that is no cliche, the man was awesome.

Answer 12

Rocky Matciano the only undefeated heavyweight champion ever

Answer 13

To the guy who named Joe Calzaghe dude have more respect for Ali and dont name this over hyped Calzaghe who has yet to even fight a real champion. With that being said I think Larry Holmes was the greatest heavyweight champion of all times look at his record and the guys he beat and the lenght in which he was champion and you will understand

Answer 14

I think he WAS the greatest.  In his time.  Times have changed, training has changed, people using drugs etc.  Also the knowledge people have got now, and what people have learned from Muhammad Ali and the likes...  You can't really compare him fairly with boxers of today.  But in my opinion, he was the greatest... I don't think any boxer who fought him at the time, would mind anyone saying that.  ANDDDDDDDDDD.... he still kept his looks.  Now tell me.... how many boxers do you know that kept their looks lol.  Now that says something lol.

Answer 15

Yes, he was great, but Joe Louis, Marciano,  Tyson were all must dominant than Ali, you could tell that Mike loose some but ALi also loose some in the bottom of his career, Ali's persona and ability to make tha masses believe was his career mark

Answer 16

theres been better there are boxers who are undefeated ali lost 5 in his time Joe Calzaghe has 44 fight undefeated for over 10 years and he fights the best never ducks anyone

Answer 17

Cassius  Clay.