Excluding Foreman, Frazier, Liston (3 generally considered all time top 10 ATG heavies) and Norton (generally ranked in the top 25, and probably in my top 20), Ali's resume consists of: Ron Lyle Earnie Shavers Jerry Quarry Oscar Bonavena Jimmy Ellis Floyd Patterson Mac Foster Ernie Terrell Joe Bugner Not counting Jimmy Young because of the questionable decision or Clevland Williams (who was a shell of his former self). Even without the big 4, Ali's resume is comparable to many great heavyweights. The depth is quite incredible. I'd say the above resume isn't far behind Louis or Holmes. Probably as good as Liston's, Marciano's and Tyson's.
Patterson > Norton. So that'd make it: Ron Lyle Earnie Shavers Jerry Quarry Oscar Bonavena Jimmy Ellis Ken Norton Mac Foster Ernie Terrell Joe Bugner Zora Folley George Chuvalo Karl Mildenberger Buster Mathis Even then you lower tier guys who are still quality fighters like Henry Cooper, Leon Spinks, Brian London &c. and even after Unbelievable Résumé, even after omitting Jimmy Young (who I find superior to Norton). For me, top six P4P and by far and away the greatest heavyweight ever.
I'd add Doug Jones. His time as a top contender was brief, but he might have been the third best HW at the time Ali fought him. Mildenberger wasn't bad either. Chuvalo was a long time contender as well.
Ali as a 20 year old started fighting contenders in 1962 and continued fighting all comers ducking no one until 1980. It really was quite incredible.
Ali's still pretty dang good without those three. That's what made Ali's career so great. It was great because of dozens of great fighters he fought, rather than some fighters, whose greatness is built entirely upon one great victory, like Buster Douglas.
I don’t consider Norton his fourth best I’d put Patterson, Terrell above him. Arguably Bonavena and Quarry and Lyle as well. I like Norton but feel he gets over hyped quite a bit.
That's why he's the greatest heavyweight ever. A lot of the 2nd tier guys he beat would conceivably be champs in other era's.
I don’t deny him his win(s) against Ali But to me that’s more of a styles trouble (that’s why even old gave Holmes a rough night). His resume is rather thin after that. A beat up shop worn Quarry and a robbery against Young are his other two best. Otherwise nothing. Compare that to Terrell and Patterson and he doesn’t even seem in the same ball park. A good fighter for sure though but I put him w Quarry and Bonavena still top 30 but slightly below those other guys
That's what makes Ali's resume so crazy, even without his 4 best wins he still could have easily been on a top 10-15 list with those names.
