Did Ali ruin legacies with his skill?

Interesting stuff. You at your best.

 

Il Duce, as for Liston's opponents after the Ali rematch, do you know of their rankings and records when Liston fought them?

 

I can put them together.
Sonny did want to come back in April 1966, but the only state that
would license him was Alaska.
He wanted to fight George Chuvalo, but George got the opportunity to
fight Muhammad Ali (after Ernie Terrell cancelled).

That first comeback bout in Sweden, and promoted by Ingemar Johansson.
Gerhard Zech, who was ranked in the Top 10 a few times, was first on
comeback trail.

Zech at one-time was Ranked #9 by Ring Magazine. (February 1964)
He had a 27-1-1 record.
But losses to Ernie Terrell and Zora Folley in 1964 dropped him to #19 in Novmber 1964.
In 1965 '3' wins got him back up to #14 in September 1965.
Then he was upset KO'd (L KO 2) by trial-horse Dave Bailey in an October 65' tune-up bout,
and dropped out of the Top 20, to #24.
Another loss (15-Round decision) in November 65' to Karl Mildenberger for the European Title didn't
hurt his #24 ranking.

He did win the German Heavyweight Title in April 66' by Knocking-Out Albert Westphal in 5 Rounds,
which bumped him up one-notch in the Rankings to #23.

At the time he fought Sonny Liston in June 1966, he had a record of 32-5-1 (19 KO's),
and was Ranked #23 by Boxing Digest.