Why is Muhammad Ali the greatest?

He avenged those defeats and beat every man he faced. Ali had many questionable decisions against Norton, Young and Shavers

I generally consider Frazier and Foreman to be a bit overrated. Vitali, Holyfield and Tyson are Lennox's best wins. But his second tier wins are excellent. Vitali would be joint number 1 for the next period. No other 37yo HW champ has beaten the next dominant champ.

You have a Golota who essentially retired Bowe taken out in 1 round. You have a Rudduck who gave Tyson 2 wars, taken out in 2 rounds. You have Tua who had destroyed Ruiz, Rahman, Maskeev and arguably beaten Ibeabuchi - Lewis wins every round. You have Michael Grant who was being hyped as the heir apparent. Then you have the 2 men that beat him in Rahman and McCall beaten emphatically

Only Lennox, Marciano and Tunney have wins over every men they faced

 

Frazier and Foreman overrated but medicated and shot tyson, golota who got destroyed by a shot Tyson ,never did anything Michael Grant, Tua who lost to Chris byrd and an old war torn holyfield are good wins? The reality is Lewis only win over a prime elite fighter was Klitschko and he won that fight on cuts. It's lewis' opposition that's overrated not alis. I know one thing for sure, Ali would never drop fights to guys like Rahman or McCall in his prime. avenged or not those losses happened

 

I'll answer that for him....... No one.

 

Klitschko on cuts is the only real elite win he has, and he may we'll have lost if it wasn't for vitalis paper skin

 

1 Michael Grant was a HBO hype job
2 Bowe was a shell of himself by the time he fought Golota.
3 Most of the decisions you named were when Ali skills were going in serious decline.
4 Foreman was better than Tua,Grant and Golota

 

Bowe. Ingo.

 

If he defeated Tyson in 1988 that would've been an excellent win. But in 2002?
No, just "no" it isn't. A battle worn Holyfield in 1999 a great win? And Lewis had
to fight him twice to get a comfortable decision? Vitali Klitchkoes a great win? The same
Vitali Klitchkoes that quit against Chris Byrd?
The same Lewis that was starched twice in the prime of his career, that
Lewis?
And your opinion is Foreman and Frazier is overrated? But Lewis isn't?
It is your opinion and of course your welcome to it. But my opinion is your
wrong.

 

Ha Ha in one of the worst Eras of Heavyweights we have see for some time.!!!!

 

Oh dear god, you can only beat what's in front of you.

 

I can play the same game pointing to Foreman being schooled by Young or Frazier by baskeball bounced by Foreman to point out. Styles make fights

Tyson wasn't shot either. He was past prime but Lennox was older himself. He still as you mentioned destroyed Golota shortly before. Holyfield was past prime but on a comeback of beating Tyson and Moorer. Lennox was only 3 years younger than Holyfield himself.

Ali might not lose to McCall/Rahman but Lennox wouldn't be losing to Frazier, Norton x3 times, Young, Spinks or Shavers. Which Ali arguably did.

Also let's not forget Bowe, Holyfield, Tyson and Moorer all ducked Lennox for several years. Tyson paid Lennox not to face him.

 

He used the phrase very loosely to be fair.

What he was saying was "I am the champion of the world, if you want to call yourself the champion, you had better be ready to come through me!"

He never saw himself as being the only person ever to hold that mantle.

Of course as he continued to build his resume, and surpass his historical heavyweight peers, the word greatest took on another more literal meaning!

 

Not in the early days he didn't. I've read 2 Ali biographies. Apparently he got on a train one time and would be screaming out the windows at passer buys that he was the greatest boxer of all times. I find it quite likely he was a narcissist, although he does seem to have a decent amount of empathy depending on the situation so who knows.

 

Your argument that Frazier is overrated because he lost to Foreman...ok.

Foreman lost to Jimmy young, a good fighter, by decision. If this makes Foreman overrated, but Lewis getting knocked out cold by 2 journeymen in the middle of his prime does not, I have no counter to your argument because I don't believe you are being objective.

Also, the idea that Lewis would have no problems with Frazier even though he got starched by rahman, I just don't even know where to begin with that.

Tyson was beyond shot vs Lewis. He was also in the midst of a mental health crisis. Anyone who was around and old enough to remember 2002 knows that.

Bowe - shot
Holyfield - shot
Golata - shot and not that good to begin with
Rahaman - mediocre
McCall - mediocre

Look at objectively. This is a collection of names but contextualize it and you'll realize there is nothing very impressive here, just a lot of good timing for lewis

 

When he is in the presence of another great boxer, he uses the term a lot more carefully.

 

There is NO argument for Lewis > Ali unless it's H2H.