Ali (1 thru 61; Hunsaker thru Berbick)

It's pretty well documented that Muhammd Ali's greatest fight was with
Joe Frazier in Manila, 10/1/75.

And, quite possibly his worst, was his performance versus Trevor Berbick
on 12/11/81.

1),,, Joe Frazier III (10/1/75)
61),,Trevor Berbick (12/11/81)

A list is being comprised for a Sunday Magazine, anybody have any input on where each fight should be.

It includes his losses also.

 

i'd put ali's loss to holmes as his worst.

 

Holmes was definitely worse, a terrible performance which has laughably been tagged the 'greatest example of a fighter showing heart' by a few boneheads on here.

 

you are joking
ali looked and fought like a corpse

 

I wish I was. :!:

 

Looked Best vs Ernie Terrell '67

Greatest Win vs George Foreman '74

Greatest Fight vs Joe Frazier I '71

Worse Fight vs Larry Holmes '80

 

Looked his best vs Cleveland Williams.
Greatest win vs George Foreman.
Greatest fight vs Joe Frazier III.
Worse fight vs Larry Holmes.

Anyone have the entire list ?

 

ali never looked best in the fight of terrel, his legs were not so fast in this fight. the best ali(that we saw) was against cleveland williams and sonny liston.

 

The list is based on his overall performance in the ring and quality opponent.
1),,,Joe Frazier III
2),,,Cleveland Williams
3),,,George Foreman
4),,,Ernie Terrell
5),,,Joe Frazier II
6),,,Sonny Liston I
7),,,Zora Folley
8),,,Sonny Liston II
9),,,Joe Frazier I
10),,Floyd Patterson I
11),,Ken Norton II

60),,Larry Holmes

 

I thought Berbick was an okay fight considering how shot he was.

Spinks I has to be down there, Probably 59 in my book, with Berbick at 58.

What about the Quarry fights they would have to be pretty highly rated, i would have thought. And the three Norton fights were pretty ordinary performances, although in some ways the effort in the 1st with the broken jaw was still pretty good even though he lost. I think it is a pretty interesting topic actually.

 

Ali's best perfomance for me is either Patterson or Terrell. He looks unreal against Williams, but he was just no enough challenge at the time to really prove anything against.

He's at his worst against Holmes, but I think Spinks is his worst loss. Greatest win is either Liston I or Foreman. Perhaps Foreman, since that ended more conclusively.

Underrated perfomances are those against Patterson, Ellis and Berbick.

 

Me too. At least the great man was throwing punches in the Berbick fight.

 

I see it pretty much the same. Out of the 70's performances,I'd say his best were - Quarry 2,Norton 2,Frazier 2,Foreman and Frazier 3. His worst of that decade were - Young and Spinks 1.

 

Another case of having superman standards for Ali



Good....he convinced you..

 

totally agree...terrell is also a pick for the top spot. some will put folley at number 1 but i just didn't see the same destructive quality there