Which was Ali's biggest fight. These are my three nominees: Liston I Just another title fight to the public. Ali's antics was the only thing that set it apart, really. But from his own perspective it was probably his biggest challenge. First fight of this magnitude and against a seemingly invincible monster, whereas Ali/Clay himself had looked wanting when stepping up in class against Jones and Cooper. Liston was at least one class above that. And if Ali lost as predicted, his career would quite possibly never recuperate. FOTC In terms of public attention and anticipation this must have been his biggest. But by this time this was not unknown waters to Ali. Frazier was clearly a formidable opponent and Ali might have been harboring doubts about how much he had lost due to inactivity, but he was not looking down into the abyss the way he did when facing Liston and he was not in the last chance saloon in the way he was against Foreman. Zaire A much bigger world wide build up than for his first fight against Liston, but not quite as singular event as FOTC. But this time Ali again stod in front of someone with a very rare aura of invincibility and destructiveness, while he himself was getting on in years. Foreman had crushed Ali's two most difficult opponents like paper cups and if Ali lost to him as well it would probably mean more or less the end of his career. This was likely his last chance to become top dog again - with declining abilities and against someone as frightening Liston. My pick is Liston I. It was by far the most insignificant of the three from an outside standpoint, but in my view this is outweighed by the significance it had for Ali and the huge challenge it posed for him.
All 3 were intrinsic to his legacy. Frazier never got the credit he was due for FOTC , mainly because he achieved little after it ( he had health/eye issues) .Nonetheless the FOTC was the first time Ali had faced someone younger than himself and unbeaten and of course he lost. Liston and Foreman were seen as unbeatable monsters, however they were both made to look clumsy and beatable by Ali's speed and skill. Ironically it was Frazier who rates below both of them for most people( i would guess)? Who beat Ali. Proof as always that styles make fights. I think the Foreman win sealed his legacy . It's hard to be in the mindset of how those fights looked BEFORE they took place. With both Liston and particularly Foreman,Ali was very much the underdog.
Good post ! All three are intrinsic to Muhammad's legacy. I'd put the Foreman fight at the top as Ali not only turned the odds on their head but did it in a totally unexpected way.
I lived through Ali's career from 1970 onward. It would be hard to imagine any fight of Ali's that had the impact of beating Foreman. Very few gave him any chance. Many thought he might get seriously injured including Cosell. Not only did he win but the KO occurred in spectacular fashion.
