Ali H2H

In about 20 years forums like this will probably be about as realistic about Ali's chances as they are with Louis. Imo Louis's style is actually better suited to today than Ali ( relied on power, while Ali relied on size and speed, power is a better indicator of hw success as a champ). Anyway, 20 years, and enough contemporaries will have died off, and enough other people will have a lessened mythology of Ali, that they will be more realistic about his chances of success. Still alot of nostalgiaists saying he'd beat anyone ever, but more people recognizing he couldn't compete against much larger, modern champs. As is, it about 60/40 people thinking he'd probably beat anyone

 

Dictionary basically describes
"Something dead that's wrapped in bandages"
Pretty good description of Zaire Foreman if you ask me !

 

He's called the greatest because he beat more ranked HWs than anyone else, is second only to Louis in terms of wins for the undisputed title (of any division) and is 5-1 against three fighters that are all in or around just about anyone's top 10 at HW.

 

No. One received praise from people all over the world while the other has to have bodyguards that protect him from attack.

 

6'3" with a 78-80" reach is not small today, but 210-215 pounds which is Ali's best operating weight is.

At 210-215 Ali would have the speed edge for sure, but at 220+ he slowed down a lot. When you factor in Ali's trouble with good jabbers, which is essentially all the top super heavyweights, reliance on clinching at times, which would not work well for him giving up 20+ pounds in weight, and tendency to be nailed by left hooks, he's in for a hard night vs ANY skilled super heavyweight.

Terrell suffered an eye injury early in his fight with Ali and although he was tall, he was neither heavy or fast.

 

Yes.

Thanks for pointing out the omission.

 

I think we are seeing a new generation of boxing fans who do not value any attribute apart from size in a fighter.

I also think that this element is the most dogmatic in terms of their opinion, with the biggest gaps in their knowledge.

It’s called the Dunning Kruger effect.

 

Some of you act like a 200 lbr can't punch nearly as hard as a 240 lbr even if that 240 lbs is fat.

 

The reason he is called the greatest, is because he proved it in the ring, in a way that no heavyweight has come close to doing since.

The current generation of heavyweights can’t fight Ali, but they all had a shot at matching his record.

 

Joe Louis is the longest reigning champ.
And Ali is not known for some record. He's the greatest because he beat the most top quality fighters.

Floyd Patterson 2X
Cleveland Williams
Archie Moore
Doug Jones
Henry Cooper 2X
Sonny Liston 2X
Zora Folley
Ernie Terrell
Jerry Quarry
Joe Bugner
Buster Mathis
Ron Lyle
Bob Foster
George Chuvalo
Joe Frazier 2X
Ken Norton 2X
Prime George Foreman
Ernie Shavers
Leon Spinks



Godlike list

 

It comes down to which records are most important.

To my mind the question of who is greatest comes down to depth and longevity.

Ali beat more ranked contenders than any other heavyweight in history, and more than twice as many as any of the superheavyweights.

He was also able to hold the lineal title intermittently over a period of 14 years, and his number of title defences is only surpassed by Louis himself.


That puts him well ahead of anybody who came after him on paper.

 

Doesn’t your first point suggest that you might be too hasty in assuming the second?