what where the top 5 closest losses to muhammad ali?

Both victories against Norton was obviously very close, as was Manilla. That's three. Then we have Young, Shavers and Jones. The win over Cooper can also get a mention. That was the most close wins Ali had.

But those five in the 70's are the closest and most hard-fought I would say.

 

Im not an Ali fan, but it must be said there werent too many coming close in his prime. The Cooper one can be debated all-day, but he totally cleared it up in the rematch

 

His fight against Jones in 1963 was pretty close and hard-fought, but that was before he really entered his prime.

 

It has to be Norton II and III, Young and probably Frazier II and III, I know frazier was tkod in III but it was such a close fight until that time.

 

For my money, Frazier II wasn't close. I had it 8-4 or 7-4-1. The judges had it more or less the same.

 

Norton III was the closest fight Muhammad Ali has ever actually won. Some debate it to this day, but what I was more impressed with was how a man of his age and deteriating health could be so competitive with the likes of Norton and Shavers, who both gave Holmes his toughest fights. Extroadinary.

 

Ali Wepner, had Wepner landed that punch on the chin and not the belly, Ali would have been ko by the massive punch of Wepner.

 

When I see that fight, I have a very hard time to believe that Wepner was ranked in the top 10 for three years straight by the Ring Magazine. He's very tough and durable, but just looks so amateurish.

 

And not to forget, Ali beat the living **** into Wepner.

 

I had Ali beating Jones 6-3-1. I thought the controversy was overblown.

The Norton fights were close. I thought Shavers won clearly. I had it 9-6 and I thought I was being a tad generous to Ali. Those ineffective flurries didn't impress me.

Then I read an interview where Shavers said he thought Ali won a close fight. :huh

 

Shavers just bought into the Ali myth making.
Talk to Joe Frazier and he may said he thought he won all 3 of there bouts.

 

atsch

 

The scores of each round were going out live as the fight happened. Shavers was well behind on points after 11 rounds. I think he needed to win all the remainding rounds or KO Ali. Shavers was 52 KO's in 54 wins going in to that fight.

 

Still it was open scoreing, BUT people still can decide for themselfs if that round went to Shavers or not when compare to a judge.

Say Holyfild Lewis was open score. It STILL would have been a draw, even though it was a bad call. Open scores dont change bad decisions.