On ESB Ali is underrated and Whitaker is overrated.

The problem I have with Motorhead and his conspiracy theory is that it has absolutely no relevancy to this thread.

The thread starter clearly states he is referring exclusively to the opinions of this forum when discussing fighters like Muhammad Ali and Pernell Whitaker. How is it that even the hardcore Boxing fans among us who study the history of the sport daily are mostly of the opinion that Muhammad Ali is the greatest Heavyweight to have ever lived? I can assure you, it has less to do with this conspiracy theory Motorhead is talking about, and more to do with the fact that for all the style Ali brought to the table, there was even more substance.

Muhammad Ali is universally regarded as the best of the Heavyweights because he was black and charasmatic? I can list half a dozen reasons why he is the greatest and with no mention of his skin colour or his outside ring activities.

Joe Frazier
George Foreman
Floyd Patterson
Sonny Liston
Ken Norton
Archie Moore

 

I've never seen an all time great list that didn't have Ali in the top ten, and for that matter I've never seen one that had Whitaker in the top five. And I think Ali is overrated. If you go by what they did against their competition, Ali can't top Joe Louis' 25 title defenses and holding the heavyweight title for 12 years. Think back 12 years ago Evander was the champ, imagine him still the champ today and you get what I mean.

 

If you go strictly by "competition" then I fail to see an argument which would argue Joe Louis being ahead of Muhammad Ali.

Joe Louis is mostly relevant when discussing who could be the greatest of all time due to his consistency and specifically his 25 title defenses.

How is Evander Holyfield and the 90s Heavyweight era relevant here? Did Joe Louis have to fight a 6'5 Lennox Lewis and a 6'4 Riddick Bowe in order to keep his Heavyweight title? Absolutely not. Holyfield reigned in the era of the Super Heavyweights, Joe Louis was often fighting Cruiserweights.

For that matter, and this is the point, did Joe Louis have to fight 6'4 George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Sonny Liston in order to keep his titles? Absolutely not. He fought good fighters; Schemling, Conn, and Walcott, etc. but would I favor any of those names to beat a peak Muhammad Ali? Not really.

Some people will make a case for Joe Louis being the greatest Heavyweight of all time, but it isn't based on the competition he fought as much as it is his consistancy.

 

Like I said, none of this has any relevancy to the thread starter's question. Let's talk about Muhammad Ali and Pernell Whitaker from a Boxing fans perspective, you know, seeing as we're all Boxing fans. You're boring me to tears with this political bull****. :-(

 

Because holding an opinion contrary to public opinion is their way of showing how incredibly smart they are. This thread is spot on.

 

Typical conservative dumbass. Marciano wasn't just white, he was tiny and slow. How does he beat Ali?

 

*whew* i thought you'll mock us again and say pac

 

so basically it's usually uneducated white racist rednecks always spouting off about Marciano? That pretty much explains it.

 

*******s deserved to be mocked, not Manny.

 

I think Ali is slightly underrated around here in general. Whitaker, well, i wouldn't say he is overrated, more that he is rarely underrated, and almost everyone gives him his dues (which is rare).

 

most people rate Ali #1 (or at least in top 3) ATG .. so how is he underrated?