Ali of course not only for what he did inside the ring, but also what he did outside the ring, he introduced rules which has made boxing more safer, and more entertaining, and biggest of all gives boxers the pay they deserve as each fight they fight maybe there last. Ali also gave great boxing skills, and gave black people equal rights in sports not only just boxing but basketball baseball etc etc.
Lately i would actually agree with the above. MMA. The competition made boxing wake up and the lil "competition" we have going is overall good for the sport.
Ali might be first but I think Tyson is the 2nd greatest thing ever to happen to boxing. Noone else had generated such a long sustained public interest in boxing.