Who did Mohammad Ali defeat for his four heavyweight championships and when?

Question

Who did Mohammad Ali defeat for his four heavyweight championships and when?

Answer 1

Ali beat Sonny Liston first. . . .TITLE ONE

Then knocked out George Foreman in Zaire. . . .TITLE TWO

Then decisioned Leon Spinks. . . TITLE THREE

No fourth title for Ali. . .but he did beat EIGHT world champions during his career.  Liston, Patterson, Terrell, Foster (lightheavy), Frazier, Norton, Foreman, and Spinks.  Pretty stinkin' impressive if you ask me. . . .

Answer 2

First things first, Muhammad Ali was only a three-time heavyweight champion.  He defeated Leon Spinks in their rematch in September 1978 to become champ for the third and last time.

Answer 3

Ali won 3 Heavyweight championships.

Beat Sonny Liston for his first championship

Beat George Foreman for his 2nd championship

Beat Leon Spinks for his 3rd championship

Answer 4

Muhammad Ali won the title 3 times but he won the WORLD title.  There are a few after him who claim to have won it 4 times but they won Fractions of the title.

In 1964 Ali won the world title from Sonny Liston.  Liston was outboxed and embarassed.  He threw his shoulder out of place missing a lot of punches.  He quit on his stool before the 7th round.  History tells us he changed his name (originally Cassius Clay) After winning the title.  The truth is that he changed it before fighting for the title.  At that time, had he allowed it to be known he was a member of the Nation of Islam he would not have gotten a shot at the title.

Ali was stripped of the Title in 1967 for refusal to join the army under religious beliefs.  

Ali received another shot at the title in 1974 and won,  beating George Forman.

In Feb. 1978 an unmotivated and out of shape Ali lost the title to Leon Spinks.  In all its wisdom,  the Toilet bowl organization known as the WBC took its version from Leon for refusing to fight Ken Norton.  They knew Ali would retire after regaining the title from Spinks.

I guess I could see where one organization might install Norton as the number one contender after Ali lost,  and Ali number 2.  Still,  the public wanted to see Ali regain the title.  

Norton lost the "handed" title to Larry Holmes in June 1978.

Spinks kept the WBA title and defended it in a rematch against Ali.  Ali regained the title in Sept 1978.  Because the title is won or lost IN THE RING,  not the office of the WBC,  ALi was once again recognized by the WORLD as heavyweight champion.  He retired after that fight.

In Oct. 1980 Ali made an ill fated comeback against Larry Holmes,  who by that time had establised himself as the ONLY champion who mattered.    Thyular sapped Ali's weight and strength before the fight.  Don King should rot in h**l for allowing the fight to take place.  He KNEW Ali was a very sick man before the Holmes fight.  

Ali had one final fight a year later against Trevor Berbick then finally retired

Answer 5

chris, you forgot archie moore & trevor berbick.