Dempsey, Liston, Holyfield, Frazier.

exactly.

ali did not have to be at his absolute best to beat that version of Liston proving Listons peak was indeed prior to this.
This makes sonnys prime about 3 years, the other champions in this discussion were regarded as the best heavyweight in the world for longer.

 

:good

 

Whether Ali was clowning or not before the Cooper knockdown. He ****ed his **** up quick time immediatley after it.

 

Its the best i can do! lol.

 

Boxing is not a summation of how one scores in categories. It is a fluid physical performance orchestrated by acquired physical intellect, the latter of which is of the most importance and which Ali had in greater abundance versus Frazier.

 

pehaps, but I would give the frazier who blasted quarry, ellis and went nonstop at ali for 15 rounds a good chance against the tired Liston who chugged and puffed after 4 rounds in the first clay fight.

 

Liston's training prior to the first Ali fight seems to have been less than stellar.

Also there is significant evindence that he had an injury goint into that fight.

I submit that if these points are upheld, then we would have to credit Machen as having faced the better version.

 

If you take Ali by his word, you'd be tempted to go for the Liston version as the better fighter. He went on record saying that that version would have had a much easier time with Foreman than he had in reality at least...

 

And this could have nothing to do with him fighting the fastest HW of all time?:huh Someone who was physically and mentally prepared for the biggest fight of his life and who after a couple of rounds found out that he actually was as good as he was trying to persuade himself and everybody else that he was?

In short; the speed and fluidity of his moves, the accuracy and balance of his punching are the mark of a truly great fighter for anyone who cares to see it. That's really all there is to it. The rest is just digesting air. But...

 

What do you know about his fitness going into the Machen fight then?

 

Holyfield
Frazier
Dempsey
.
.
.



Liston

Holy and Dempsey had the deepest resumes (most wins vs. HOFers), Frazier had the best single win (Ali).

They were all equally dominant against what opponents they fought.

Frazier (FOTC).

Frazier takes all the others IMO.

Liston was a level below the others - sparse record against top fighters, and the most embarrassing losses in title fights.