what is alis best win?

Liston then Foreman.

 

I agree. Ali's first win over Liston has become very underrated.

 

Liston I
Foreman

 

Terrell is his best performance.

Best victory is easily Foreman.

 

1. Foreman - George had destroyed inside two rounds the only men (Frazier and Norton) to beat Ali. George was the young champ, Ali the older guy. Foreman was an 8-1 favorite to win. Ali's only hope was to maybe last the distance and get a decision. Instead, Ali scored a KO.

2. Liston - Sonny was the dominant champ. He'd beaten the top names of the era (Patterson twice, Folley, Machen, Williams twice). Ali was one of the youngest guys to challenge for the title and had to get off the deck to win against ordinary Henry Cooper in his last fight. Liston was an 8-1 favorite to win. Ali's only hope was to go the distance and maybe win a decision. Instead, Ali scored a TKO.

3. Frazier III - The match decided who won their trilogy. Turned out to be one of the greatest fights of the 20th Century. Ali was decked and lost a clear decision in fight one, and he scored a close decision over Frazier in fight two. This time Ali left it all in the ring during the championship rounds and scored a TKO win in the last great fight by both.

Three fights against three Hall of Fame heavyweight champions ... three stoppage wins.

 

Dodging prison......

For me though it has to be Liston or Foreman.

 

My first thought as well. How is that not there? Unbelievable.

Liston and Foreman for me. Williams is perhaps not even top 30 as a win. Superb performance, though.

 

1-Foreman
2-Frazier 2
3-Liston 1 ( second fight was a fix )

 

Great call on the fights, Dub. He showed the most skill v Liston, most intelligence and craft v Foreman and most heart in Manila, imo. How one man over 13 years could produce those fights against that level of opposition is beyond me.

 

His best performance is Terrell.

His best win on paper is the first Liston fight.

I might say that his best win in practice is the Foreman fight, due to his more advanced age, and the circumstances surrounding the Liston fight i.e. poor preparation.

 

Greatest boxing performance - Liston
Greatest fight - Foreman

 

In the purely pugilistic sense : Cleveland Williams
The most important: Rumble in the Jungle (A victory over a seemingly invincible opponent, this fight cemented the Ali status as a true ATG)
The most dramatic: Thrilla in Manilla (The fight that demanded more from Ali, both opponents went almost to the end of their physical limits)

 

George Foreman was his best win. But best performance? There are several fights of his which are debatable for that spot.

 

The best answers are already in, but one performance that often gets overlooked is his win over a competetive Shavers.When you factor in that we now know that Ali was on the slope to mental and physical decline by this point, it was a damn good win over a good version of a dangerous opponent.