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Ken Norton.

 

None of them towered over the others. If you go with official decisions it's Ali obviously. Wins over Young, Norton and Shavers.

 

Muhammad Ali.

 

Gerrie Coetzee

 

Agreed. It was likely the reason why he was awarded the title up Ali’s retirement. Almost no one thought he had beaten Norton in the rubber match.

 

Norton wasn't awarded the title after Ali's retirement.

Norton and Young were the top two contenders in 1977. They fought. Norton won. Ali and Spinks agreed the winner of their fight in February 1978 would take on Norton next, because he was the mandatory. Spinks won and decided not to fight Norton but to give Ali a rematch.

So Leon was stripped and Norton was awarded the WBC belt based on his win over Young in their eliminator.

 

In 1975, Ali.

In 1976, Foreman. Ali wasn't very good in 1976.

After Foreman lost and retired in 1977, Norton.

After Holmes beat Norton in 1978, Holmes.

That's how all the adults I knew then saw it. I tend to think they were right.

Ali wasn't impressive in 76 and 77.

But he was the world champ.

 

I wouldn't go that far.

It was pretty polarizing at the time, and a UPI poll of press scorecards showed an even split http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...BInAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UwMGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1189,2637077

 

Jimmy Young. He beat George, Lyle and on fair cards Norton. Did the Ali fight happen during that period? I don’t want to ever watch that fight but I heard Young could’ve had it.

 

I have a memory as a kid of watching our local 10 p.m. news the night of Ali-Norton 3.

And the local sports anchor said Norton had appeared to have won the first seven rounds. I had to go to bed. But I thought I'd wake up and Norton would be the champ.

The next morning my mom woke me up and said Ali had won the decision. I couldn't believe it. How could he have come back after being that far down?

That was when I realized it didn't really matter who someone "thought" was winning.

It matters who the judges think is winning.

 

Between 76 and 77, Gerrie Coetzee beat Marciano-clone Mike Schutte twice, Ron Stander, iron-tough Kallie Knoetze, title contender Pierre Fourie, the very capable Johnny Bourdreaux and Randy Stephens.

 

Jimmy Young.

He proved it

Foreman whipped Norton

Ali beat Foreman

and Jimmy beat both AND Ron Lyle

He not only beat Ali, he made him look very bad

 

Muhammad Ali despite some very controversial decisions over Jimmy Young and Ken Norton, both in 1976.

 

George Foreman. 4 fights, 4 knockouts in 1976.
Fight Of The Year 1976 George Foreman Vs Ron Lyle.
Fighter of the Year 1976. Foreman.
And I would say “Return of the Year” 1976. Foreman.
1976 Foreman Vs Frazier 2.
In 1977, things changed, but on New Year's Eve 1977 - George Foreman.
I don’t think Foreman should be ignored.