Muhammad Ali/Cassius Clay

Yes, Happy Birthday Muhammad.

Like most, I'd say be belongs either at the top or very close to it regarding the heavies. All time P4P? I don't really think about it.

 

Number one for heavyweight. Like any of the great ones,he could have been beaten by another on a given night but in an all time league table,he'd have more wins than anyone else.

P4P - Top ten.

 

It has to be #1 or #2 at hw, a case can be made for Joe Louis ahead of him but I'd have Ali #1

P4P I'd agree with the post above, possibly 7-14. I'd have him around #10 I'd say

 

Number 1 at heavyweight although I'd have no problem with people picking Joe Louis.
All weights all time pound for pound although it's fashionable to have him quite a way down the list I would still have him top 5.

 

Steve Lott is also born yesterday and so was Cus D'Amato.

 

Ali and Louis share the No. 1 spot on my list.
Mike Tyson was very impressive the way he got rid of opponents. But then I saw Ali vs. Frazier 1 and Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles and I realized that both Frazier and Marciano were better in their primes.
Lenox Lewis was a great champion. But I think Larry Holmes was a little better. So I have Larry Holmes as the No. 2.

 

Ali is the greatest of all time and he beats them all.

 

Bob Foster also was born on January 17, I think.
I have never sat down and drawn up lists of the fighters I consider to be the best. If I did, I guess Ali would be 8-12 on my HW list, and he would not make y top 100 P4P list.

 

I've went over in my mind this question for years but it always comes out the same, Louis number 1 and Ali number 2. A clear spot down to number 3 Johnson.

 

What if you couldn't have two number 1's?

 

A minimum of 7 and a maximum of 11 heavyweight champions better than Ali?
Well it's all opinion I suppose!

 

Ali by a mile , easily the best - way to fast for all the other champs.

 

I've said this before and it was Ali's own doing but...
We never saw him fight from March 67 (Folley) until October of 70 (Quarry). Over 3 1/2 years of prime!
IMO had he stayed active he would have wiped out everyone in that period. A possible scenerio:
Bonavena was on the table for a summer of 67 scrap.
Ellis/Quarry/Spencer/Martin from fall 67 into 68.
Maybe a globe trotting match against Peralta in Luna Park in 68.
An earlier rematch with my beloved Floyd.
The initial Frazier fight would have happened by at least early 69 with Ali prevailing in a tough scrap with a rematch (same outcome) maybe a year later?
Who would have been left at that point?
Boxing history surely would have been changed had he continued uninterrupted.
From the 70-72 period would there have been any legit contender that could have hung with him? Am I missing anyone?
Perhaps a Foreman match may have been his "Waterloo" in a loss, tho given my breakdown, George may have been thrown in much earlier before he was 'seasoned'.
Just my thoughts, feel free to disagree.