Ali beat the best opposition in title matches. Who's #2?

No, but I don't think white supremacists and fascists spend much time collecting articles and information on such relatively obscure black fighters as Jeff Merritt, Eddie Machen, Thad Spencer and Amos Johnson either.

 

Stevie G,

The Clay/Ali ledger is by far the best list of figters, compared to any other heavyweight.

But, since we, the fans, were able to witness many of his fights on Free TV, there is a
long-lasting impression of farcical fights over "B" rated fighters.

A fighter who helped transcend the sport to a level, no one in their right mind
could ever imagine, then turn it into his own personal side-show complete with
clowns and circus acts.

This is the 'World Heavyweight Championship".

Pat Putnam, sports writer of Sports Illustrated, summed it up, after the Jimmy Young fight.
'One day Muhammad Ali will realize he can't fight anymore, and he will not be able to use the ring as his personal stage'.
'Yes, he's comfortable in there, like a carny in the center ring, but when its time to
close down the travelling circus because there are no more towns to visit, he will
die alone in the center ring, eaten by his own ego.'

 

Putnam was always very poetic :good There've been many champions since Ali,who've been guilty of hubris,though. Larry Holmes and the jockstrap comment,for a kick off.

 

Yes, your reaction is a bit strange.
"Il Duce" is just another user name. We've had a rogue's gallery of murderers and political extremists suggested in name's and avatars here on ESB over the years.
You've made a big deal out of his Clay/Ali thing, and you've filled in a lot of blanks, jumped to all sorts of conclusions, like his silly little comment actually meant something deep and sinister and extensive.
Anyway, he ranks the guy TWICE in his top 5. Which is funny. Funnier is that he's being judged a "hater" for doing so.

Disgusted by your own imaginations.

I agree with you about ESB lounge and the racism and nastiness that can be found there, on a daily basis. In General often too.
But you've either made an honest mistake here, or you're conveniently labelling Il Duce a racist/fascist because you've grown sick of his posts on matters of BOXING.

Not that the guy needs defending from me. I'm just saying this place is better without the accusations, character assassination and innuendos.

 

God ! There are some extremely strange individuals in the Lounge :-(

 

Hey,,,,,

I could have put 'Cassius X' in there, but he never made any defenses.

 

Aye. It's a mad house in there for sure.

 

Thank God. I didn't bring up the Chuck Wepner defense in Cleveland.

The only reason he got that fight, is because in his previous fight with
Randy Neumann, Randy was bleeding worse than Chuck,,,if thats possible.

AHHHH, Chuck Wepner vs. Randy Neumann "Eliminator Fight'

What do Chuck Wepner and Randy Neumann have in common.
Both beaten by Duane Bobick.:deal

 

I remember prior to the Foreman fight, Ali was sat in one of the press conferences reading out a list of Foreman's early opponents and dismissing them (quite rightly) as "nobody". When he gets to Vernon Clay he says "Clay ? .... he might be good."
Anyway, one of the names before he gets to Vernon Clay is Chuck Wepner. Ironic then that his very next fight is against a nobody Foreman was fed in his 4th pro fight !

 

Don King said it best,

'How many white guys do you know who can be safe on a Monday night, all
alone in a square ring in Cleveland.'

'If Chuck Wepner was black, he wouldn't be on the card as 6-round preliminary fight'

'Ali told me to get him a safe opponent, and I said, how about a part-time liquor salesman from Bayonne, New Jersey'

 

Yes, Wepner was an easy first defense after the grueling Foreman victory. SO what is your point? By the end of the year, Ali would face the two top contenders in Lyle and Frazier.

Wepner was a backup fight anyway..when the Lye fight hit a snag. Ali's bluff got called and he had to go through with the fight.

[url]http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7-MNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gnkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7249,1770239&dq=ali+wepner&hl=en[/url]

 

McG,

You can watch that fight 20 times, and come up with 20 different conclussions.

Thankfully, we do have a tape to view.
If I can find referee Barney Felix' article, about his inside the ring view of the fight,
I'll post it.

His main concern before the fight, was Cassius Clay's health, once he was inside the ring with Sonny Liston.