What would your all time top 10 look like right as Ali retired in 1978? Remember, this is before Foreman's second comeback. No Tyson, no Lewis, Holyfield, and even most of Holmes's accomplishments were ahead of him. Mine: 1. Ali 2. Louis 3. Liston 4. Foreman 5. Frazier 6. Marciano 7. Dempsey 8. Johnson 9. Jefferies 10. Schmeling I am a little undecided on the 10th spot. I am a big Schmeling fan but you can make a real case for Wills, Langford, Charles or Walcott to be there.
01 - Ali 02 - Louis 03 - Rocky 04 - Frazier 05 - Liston 06 - Johnson 07 - Foreman 08 - Wills 09 - Dempsey 10 - Jeffries
1) Ali 2) Louis 3) Frazier 4) Foreman 5) Marciano 6) Liston 7) Charles 8) Johnson 9) Norton 10) Schmeling
1. Ali 2. Louis 3. Dempsey 4.. Johnson 5. Jeffries 6. Marciano 7. Liston 8.. Fitzsimmons 9. Frazier 10. . Tunney
0.Saint Primo 1. Jimmy Young 2. Ezzard Charles 3. Bob Sh1tfield 4.Earnie Shavers 5.Abe Simons 6.Scrap Iron Johnson 7.Rocky Marciano 8. Rex Layne 9. 10. Cleveland Williams
I doubt nearly as many would rate Ali at the top had he just retired. It usually takes a bit for someone's accomplishments to sink in, and the very dimished Ali would be freshest in people's minds. Plus Foreman's comeback certainly elevates Ali's win over him
It's really hard to say. Maybe something like. 1. Joe Louis 2. Jack Johnson 3. Rocky Marciano 4. James J Jeffries 5. Muhammad Ali 6. John L Sullivan 7. Harry Wills 8. Jack Dempsey 9. Joe Frazier 10. Ezzard Charles (how long before this list is taken completely out of context or misunderstood?)
