Ali deserves to be # 2 on ESPN list of greatest fighters

Ali was greater than Holmes. But if Ali dominated 2 decades, maybe Holmes did too. Ali only reigned 1964-67 in the 60s, and 1975-77 in the 80s. He dominated in the 70s as in he was the best fighter with the best impact, but Foreman, Frazier and Norton either had the beating of him, or the title, for much of the time. Ali was the greatest, but ...... in the 60s his star shone brief and bright (I personally believe Liston would have beaten him 2 years earlier), and in the 70s he was surrounded by great fighters, and then good fighters who really should have been given the decisions.

 

sorry - i meant 1974 -78 in the 70s.

 

I agree, you can make a case for him being number 2 all time. What he accomplished was pretty remarkable. The great heavyweights he beat and the ongoing list of excellent fighters and contenders. I have him in my top 5 all time (number 4) behind Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, and Harry Greb (who beat 10 hall of famers to my knowledge - Gene Tunney, Maxie Rosenbloom, Mike Gibbons, Tommy Gibbons, Tommy Loughran, Mickey Walker, Tiger Flowers, Battling Levinsky, Jack Dillon, and Jack Blackburn). For heavyweights, I have him number 1.

 

i agree Ali is a legend and should be at 1 or 2

 

Ross, Caniz, Greb, Langford, and others have MORE HALL of Famers on there list. 7 is a short number imo compare to 20 or so on these guys list.

 

SRR, then Armstrong is fine.