Muhammad Ali's resume has done serious damage to boxing (excuse my rambling)

He beat Liston, Patterson, Frazier etc....Foreman goes down for longevity and KO% his title reigns were uneventful....like Liston he could not hold on to it very long at that level....Frazier made something like 10 defenses and demonstrated a dominance at that level Foreman couldn't

 

None of those guys (except Foreman) were in their prime when he beat them

 

Patterson was not out of prime he lacked the size to handle the bigger generation and Liston was as well he was the champion of the world

 

He was mate.

 

I think great champion's sometimes elevate their challengers resumes by the struggles those challengers give the champion.

Ali in my opinion is the best example of this because of his popularity. Frazier was fantastic, as were other Ali opponents, but I think in the all time sense, they get rated higher because they were Ali's competition. They are extra famous by proximity.

That's not to say Ali doesn't have an amazing resume, because he does. However, I don't think it should be said we all agree he's the absolute greatest. Many rightfully view Louis as the greatest. I believe good arguments are available for both. Depends on preferences.

 

I have Joe Louis as my #1 all time with Muhammad Ali at #2, but I will not argue with someone who has them reversed. It is very close in my view.

 

this, and it could be said for many a Boxer, if not all...

I too believe Louis IS the Greatest HW, after that it always gets harder, because 'lists' are near impossible to be 100% accurate. I, for example, would put JJW on a list of Greatest HW's, where many other wouldn't, because this whole 'greatest business is Achievement Based & Title oriented, which for me automatically nullifies the validity of such lists.

there were/are far too many Great Top fighters too consider honestly & objectively and too many factors in the 'business' of Boxing to pretend that sometimes at least - this wasn't "the Factor", making or breaking some over others.

Nah, H2H is the only Lists that matter,
and even then, near impossible to be 100% correct, but knowing Ali is 'among' the Top is undisputed acceptance for most fight fans - but so too is JJW and his ilk - see what I mean, more honest & realistic, but near impossible to make absolute definitive lists.

 

I agree mate, so puzzled why they're constantly being evoked when it clearly doesn't favour more modern fighters..just like it didn't 50+ years ago.

 

Yes, Frazier is probably more highly regarded because he fought Ali, but with Liston the opposite is most likely true. Quite possibly for Foreman too.