A fighter who's legacy relies almost entirely on beating one man?

Good morning Fergy.
Not sure if this boxer fits your description entirely, or if I grasp, but maybe Buster Douglas ?
stay safe buddy, chat soon.
Mike.

 

Arguably Frazier, Leon Spinks,
McCall, Rahman, Turpin

 

Frazier had a good run before fighting Ali tho. Beat all top contenders from 1968 to 1970.

 

I did say arguably - he did have a good run but his résumé is significantly elevated by having one of the greatest wins on paper.

How many casuals know him for anything outside of Ali and Foreman?

 

By legacy it means their legacy whatever it is depends on that win. Frazier and Schmelings wins over Ali and Louis distract from how few of the best fighters of their era they fought and/or beat. Others thats their only good win or title win.

Corbett
Wild Bill Hanrahan
Willard
Siki
Schmeling
Joe Frazier
Wepner
Michael Spinks(HW)
Pinklon Thomas
Iran Barkley
Espana
Roy Jones(MW, HW)
Chris Byrd
Sergio Mora
Yuri Foreman
Juan Manuel Marquez
Austin Trout
Stiverne
Jeff Horn

Theres also a few guys whose legacys rely on losses where they performed very well like Firpo, Godoy, Walcott and Conn.

 

Why Schmeling? Before Louis he had beaten Risko, Walker, Uzcudun, Sharkey (twice if not for maga), Stribling

 

Corrie Sanders

 

I'd say Vernon Forrest. Take Mosley away and there's really not much there at all.

 

Bowe. Take away Holyfield and the cupboard is looking bare.

 

Yeah but then how many casuals know ali for anything outside of Frazier an Foreman in terms of opponents?

 

Liston, Norton, Cooper, Shavers, Williams, Terrell

Ali's career is much more vaunted than Joe's.

If you're from the UK and around my era, you should know all about these, especially Cooper, and even without, the fact that he's been covered so much and the entirety of his career is virtually available on YouTube, even a somewhat semi unlazy casual has seem something of this.

Terrell fight - What's my name? Laila had a brilliant advert with Adidas with the infamous clip of Ali slipping Terrell's shots but her in Ernie's stead.

Second Liston fight, Ali standing over him shouting at him to get up - one of the most famous pics of his career. Picture is up in every Black barbers and youth centre I remember stepping into in my childhood - pics of Ali in many gyms up and down the country, not just boxing gyms, body builder gyms, Muay Thai gyms.

Cooper was so beloved over here and his little claim to fame is Ali - trotted out in front of the public for decades.

I think you would be surprised at how much more known Ali's opponents or career moments might be recognised by a casual in comparison to Frazier's.

 

Hasim Rahman.