People say Ali beat better competition than Louis

Skilled boxers? Bugner, Ellis, Jones

Punchers? Foreman, Lyle, Shavers

Boxer-punchers - Norton, Liston

Swarmers? Frazier

I am afraid i don't understand the thread.

 

It's simply my opinion. But personally I don't see how anyone with any knowledge of the sport, believes Louis fought anyone on the level of Frazier, Liston , or Foreman.
And I'd say best night vs best night all three of those boxers would be a good bet to beat Louis himself, because their attributes, or strengths matches up very well against Louis's weaknesses.
Not one of those fighters lost to a Max Schmeling level opponent in their primes. Schmeling was a good fighter, never heard anyone consider him great, even in his own era.
I'd dare say, Quarry, Shavers, Lyle, Ellis, Bonavena, Terrell, Patterson, Williams, Folley, are just as good if not better than the vast majority of Louis's opponents.
And what do you see? Many different styles Ali faced.
Skilled Boxers, punchers, awkward brawlers, spoilers, etc.
If Ali's opponents could fight Louis's opponents, Ali's opponents win going away.
I'm a Louis fan, and love what he brought to the sport. Just keeping it real.

 

Three names should settle the question very easily.

Liston.
Frazier.
Foreman.

QED

 

Baer woukd not beat Frazier or especially Foreman, he lost to Braddock!

 

Schmeling was among the highest tier of all Louis' wins, whereas the Ali opponents you listed were no better than 2nd tier for him.

agreed, he would get outworked & battered by those 2 in a manner not too dissimilar from what Louis did to him.

 

OK.
It's your opinion.
I believe you're wrong in each scenario.
And Baer beating Foreman and Frazier is outrageous in any universe.
Especially this one.
But , again it's your opinion.

 

It’s debatable. They both beat most of the top competition that was around in their day, so an argument could be made for either side.

 

Ali beat eight members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, four Olynpic Gold Medalists from the 1956 to 1976 Olympics which shows the breadth of his career, and two consensus top ten heavyweight atgs, and a bubble top ten atg. He beat sluggers, swarmers, and out boxers. Like the great Emmanuel Steward said he put away the pretty boy stuff and fought everyone, even boxers who on paper were bad matchups.

 

My friend, you can add Floyd Patterson to the skilled boxer list. Ali said Floyd was his most skilled opponent.

 

I know what literally literally means and with a 1930s whistle Big George might literally kill Max Baer. Levels!!!

 

Ali has 3 wins over opponents universally considered top 15 atg heavyweight's in or close to their prime. Not taking anything away from Louis, but he does not.

 

Ali matched himself vs all kinds of styles and fighters,perhaps having more HOF wins too?
While you can't underestimate how Louis decimated the most 1-ranked contender in boxing, Ali still fought a better variety of fighters.