We're talking about Ali after his first retirement from boxing. None of his fights in the 70s are included here. So two undefeated champions, who has a better resume, Rocky at 49-0 or Ali at 29-0.
Rocky has Louis Walcott Charles Moore Ali has Liston Patterson Moore Williams It's hard to say. I think taking the respective versions Liston beats Walcott Patterson beats Charles Moore from Rocky beats Moore from Ali Louis beats Williams. So top 4 victories I split em two a piece. After that Rocky has LaStarza, ****ell, Matthews, Layne and Savold. Ali has Terrell, Folley, Cooper, Chuvalo, Jones. Very evenly matched. I'm gonna give the edge to Ali cos I think the Liston he beat beats everyone who Rock beat. Walcott is the hardest style for him but I think he catches up to him like Rocky did.
There's no way the corpse of Williams belongs on that list. He wouldn't make my top 10, given his state. Terrell belongs on that list for sure, maybe even ahead of Patterson. His record going into the Ali fight is extremely underrated. Also more of a personal choice of mine, but I'd replace Moore with Mildenberger. A somewhat underrated win for Ali.
I would agree with this but I think I should add Rex Layne to Marciano list who after all had wins over two lineer champions and was highly rated. If we add Mildenburger and Jones maybe there's even something of a case for Lastarza and Mathews. At the 29 fight stage I think Ali has a good resume. The order I would put them in would be: Liston, Terrell, Patterson, Mildenburger, Foley, Jones, Cooper, Moore Lavorante. I put Rockys list in this order Walcott Charles Moore Layne Louis Lastarza ****ell Mathews Savold