greeter fighter - Duran or Ali

And because of this ...we always give him the benefit of the doubt...but the facts remain

 

Liston was a skilled boxer

 

That "big stiff idiot" recaptured the heavyweight title at 45.

 

That is a good point, but he was getting his ears boxed off up till that round.

 

Kind of like Conn-Louis but the latter wasn't five years away from being eligible to join AARP.

 

Duran was the superior fighter overall.
Ali defeated the best competition in heavyweight history.
Were the fighters Ali defeated better skilled than
Dejesus, Leonard, Benitez ,Hearns or Hagler?
Doubtful, and no.

 

Both have fantastic resumes, but Ali never bitched out in a fight. That's the difference make for me. No Mas is just so unbelievably bad.

 

I always look at Muhammad Ali's career like this: what if he hadn't had a break in his 3.5 - year career. He would certainly be even more successful. So I vote for Muhammad Ali.

 

Well, Duran only defeated two of them, so the comparison is a bit off.

 

Duran. Much longer and successful career, starting from an ATG in his natural weight class and winning belts as he advanced up including achieving the rare old beats young for a title. Can't really hold the Leonard and Hearns losses against him as he redeemed himself every time people casted doubt. Ali just overshadows him due to HW popularity over other weight classes and his persona outside the ring. Also had some questionable or gifted wins throughout his career.

Another thing, Duran was voted fighter of the 70s, the same decade Ali regained his title against Foreman and fought practically everyone in the HW division.

 

He held on for dear life in his rematch v Frazier.

 

Toss up

 

Ali? No, it is something close to God who wins out here easy peasy- bow to your stone handed king.

 

But they would have all beaten DeJesus, Leonard Benitez, Hearns and Hagler. I don’t think that’s doubtful and no.