Do you think Ali was in the top 3 all time fighters?

Only the uninformed and clueless would not realise that Ali is in the top 3 of all time. His career, performances and excellence is the yardstick by which others are judged. The Pele of boxing. Definitely the greatest of all time for me even better than the great Sugar Ray Robinson and Charley Burley.

 

The only person that is just about universally considered the best ever was SRR. When it comes down to 2nd, 3rd etc., it is tough to decide. Just being considered in the top three is a tremendous honor. Names like Ali, Joe Lewis, Pepp and Armstrong come to mind. I'll say this about Ali. He was big, strong, fast, confident, took a tremendous punch and was durable. He probably fought in the deepest Heavyweight division ever. My choice for the 2nd best ever is Ali and I was never a big fan of his either.

 

No, I don't think he's top 5.

Robinson, Langford, Greb, Armstrong, Charles should all be above him IMO.

 

Holmes
Floyd
Pacman

To mention just three ?

 

#1 atg.

 

if you look at ali's accomplishments, you'll see Ruiz did more than him. And most of the guys he fought were decent at best, i said most not all. If ali had fought in the mid 80's early 90's he woud have got demoralized and castrated

 

I would replace Charles with Pep. Although it's close.

 

And then there's Marciano, Toney and Tito,

To name three more.

 

Ali was the top heavyweight in history probably but best ever? That would have to be Robinson I would say. Just all around great fighter and beat great fighters. As for Duran. Whoever mentioned him the best ever, no way. He was a great, but all time means you beat fellow legends and many of them. Duran lost to Benitez,Hearns,Leonard,Hagler. Duran was a bully who overwhelmed guys who didn't move around or box and who were a level below him. When he moved up and started fighting great fighters his losses started to rack up. If that makes him the best fighter ever then that seems a little off. Beating Dejesus and Buchanan, and having mediocre title defenses does not make a man the best ever. He is great and he perservered, but best in boxing ever. No way. Had he beaten Hagler/Benitez/Hearns I would say yes. But he didn't and he lost bigtime to Hearns and Benitez. Beating Moore and Barkley does not mean much. Benn beat Barkley in one round.

 

Really?

Charles' resume is far superior, did more through the weight divisions. Pep was more consistant throughout his career, but not all that much else IMO. It is close, but I'd put Duran over Pep as well, not over Charles.

 

And then there's Dempsey, Hit-man Hearns and six-times-champ Oscar !

I'd better stop there or he won't even be in the top 10.

 

Absolutely.

 

Yeah, I mean SRL only beat guys like Benitez, Duran, Hearns, and Hagler. He shouldn't even be mentioned with guys like Ali... who lost to Ken Norton.

 

Based on accomplishments:

Top 3 heavyweight (#2 behind Joe Louis)
P4P: probably not top 3