Muhammad Ali, top ten victories...name 'em!

No mention for being the only man to stop Bonavena in only his second fight back after a long layoff? Maybe not top ten but surely that deserves an honourable mention? Ringo had given Joe Frazier hell just a few years previously and was in his prime. Taking him on so early on in his comeback took some nerve.

 

I think the Foreman win is being oversold here…number 1 or 2? guys as an Olympian and a pro he had what 130? Something rounds he just wasn’t ready - by comparison Quarry had fought Ellis, Patterson, Chuvalo, Foster, London, Frazier, Mathis and Spencer others I’m forgetting… alongside that he’d been a pro since 65 when they matched up again in 72 he’d been fighting for 7ish years - Foreman had fought 5ish years and was barely tested, during his developmental stage they fed him stiffs till Frazier - that’s not how you build a fighter, he didn’t have enough pro experience it’s why he could bowl over Frazier or Norton he had his physicality but his education was so poor. I’d rate Liston, Quarry, and Frazier higher… it’s a shame Quarry cut so easy, thinking about it I don’t think Ali really beat any good sized guys who were “professionals” the way say Quarry was - I think the Bonavena fight deserves mention somewhere on a list, lots of adversity, Oscar was a whacky fighter but he always hung in somehow, had the chin, experience and power… made it a fight against guys who just should’ve beat him lol.

 

1. Foreman
2. Liston 1
3. Frazier 3
4. Norton 2
5. Liston 2
6. Frazier 2
7. Terrell
8. Lyle
9. Young or Shavers
10. Leon Spinks (at that age of his career to become the third time lineal HW champion...)
If I count the Norton 3 fight win, it would be ranked...
P.S. I noticed that no one ranks "win" Norton 3...

 

Foreman
Liston 1
Frazier 2
Frazier 3
Norton 3
Norton 2
Terrell
Quarry 1
Lyle
Patterson 1

I excluded only Liston 2 b/c it wasn't a real fight IMO.

 

Quarry & Bonavena were 2 heckuva opponents to be facing after a multi-year layoff.

I wouldn't argue w/ any1 who squeezed Bona into the bottom of a top 10.

 

Maybe Frazier softened up bonavena for Ali?

 

1. Foreman
2. Liston I
3. Frazier II
4. Frazier III
5. Norton II
6. Liston II
7. Patterson I
8. Terrell
9. Quarry II (incredibly dominant performance against very good fighter)
10. Lyle

That left Ellis, Patterson II, Quarry I, Young, Shavers, Bonavena, Williams and Folley out. Add here Bob Foster, Moore, Bugner, Chuvalo, Spinks, Mathis, Cooper, Jones out. That resume is absolutely unparalleled in both quality and depth

 

But Bonavena was never stopped again & went the distance w/ Lyle after that.