Why is Muhammad Ali the greatest?

I think that it is great when you stand up for what you believe in alone, today many of the young, not all, do not fend for themselves and depend on others to do their bidding, so called friends and their parents. Ali did it himself, he paid the consequences, but that took guts.

 

But Muhammad Ali was never stopped for his title in a match, Lewis was stopped twice.

 

I blame that guy who first started saying that and he said it loudly and to anyone who cared to listen. Some young whipper snapper called Cassius Clay.

 

The only heavyweight who has a case over Ali in terms of greatness/resume is Joe Louis. Nobody is even close to these two.

Lennox was amazing fighter and he had very successful career. He's not even close to Ali though (or Louis for that matter).

 

I am very happy to have followed his career since the first Patterson fight in 1965, and boxing for that matter, Ali was magic, something we had never seen before, and may never will.

 

Muhammad Ali is the greatest, I am sure others have their opinion and that is alright, they should. When he came out of the Rome Olympics in 1960, he was going to be something special. He had 19 professional fights, all victories, 15 knockouts before he defeated the unbeatable Charles Sonny Liston, who in 1962, defeated champion Floyd Patterson rather easy. Liston, a Mike Tyson and George Foreman of his era was very scary to the boxing experts with his frightening stare and his 14 inch fists. On February 25 1964, Cassius Clay, later to be known as Muhammad Ali introduced to us the art of psychological warfare, by getting into Sonny's head as Clay's trainer would remark after the weigh in, Tough Guys Are Afraid Of Guys Who Are Crazy. Cassius Clay fought a perfect fight that night, befuddling Liston with his footwork, reflexes, speed, and stamina, no Rope A Dope then, it was not needed. Even from Liniment on Liston's gloves in round 5 and wanting to quit, Clay showed heart, Liston did not, not answering the bell in round 7, losing his World Heavyweight Title to Cassius Clay. Liston was knocked out in round 1, in the rematch on May 25 1965. Clay, who was now Muhammad Ali after joining The Nation Of Islam, defended his title against Floyd Patterson, on Nov 22 1965, Ali won by TKO 12. He then defended his title against George The Washerwoman Chuvalo, on March 29 1966, Ali won a unanimous 15 round decision, after being chased out of the country after his I Got No Quarrel Against The Viet Kong remark.to the press. He stopped Henry Cooper on May 21 1966,TKO 6, Brian London KO 3, on Aug 6 1966,Karl Mildenberger, TKO 12, on Sept 10 1966, Cleveland Williams, TKO 3, Ernie Terrell, on Feb 6 1967, Ali won a unanimous 15 round decision, and Zora Folley, TKO 7, on March 22 1967. Ali was scheduled to meet Oscar Bonavena, on May 27 1967, in Tokyo, Japan, but Ali refused to submit the to the U. S. military draft, and was stripped of his boxing license and title. He was convicted on June 20 1967, of Draft Evasion, sentenced to 5 years in prison, and fined $10,000,00. He was freed on bond while he appealed his case. It took a lot of guts to fight for what he believed in, others would have not, money is more important than principles to others. In 1970, Ali returned with a victory over no. 1 contender Jerry Quarry, on Oct 26 1970, Ali won, TKO 3 and on Dec 7 1970, against Oscar Bonavena, Ali won TKO 15. But it was apparent that the skills that he had prior to his forced ban from boxing were missing, the footwork, reflexes, speed, and stamina gone. Even though he fought a good fight in a losing battle against champion Joe Frazier on March 8 1971, his skills were gone, he was more vulnerable and got hit more than before. On June 28 1971, Ali's conviction of Draft Evasion was reversed by the U. S Supreme Court, by 9-0. In a documentary I had seen on television regarding his draft case, it was said if he had defeated Frazier, Ali would have lost his appeal with the U. S Supreme Court and would have had to serve out his original sentence. Mere speculation, Joe won that night. Ali would fight on with victories over Jimmy Ellis, Buster Mathis, Jurgin Blin, Mac Foster, George Chuvalo, again, Al Blue Lewis, Joe Bugner, he lost to Ken Norton in 1973, but on Sept 10 1973, Ali won the rematch with Ken, then defeated Rudi Lubbers, Joe Frazier. On Oct 30 1974, he knocked out George Foreman in round 8 to win the title back that was unjustly taken away from him in 1967. He made 9 defenses of his title before losing it to Leon Spinks in Feb 1978 and regained it in Sept 1978. He would lose in a title bid against champion Larry Holmes, on Oct 2 1980, by TKO 10, and lose to Trevor Berbick in Dec 1981 by decision. His skills had been gone since 1967, they never returned, but he had victories with heart, especially The Thrilla In Manila against Frazier, TKO 14. He would be a good example for today's champions, he cared about others, and he is probably blessed by his God for being a good human being.

 

Ali is the greatest heavyweight champion we have had. I put Joe Louis right on his heels.
1A Ali
1B Louis

Ali had the best competition. He fought the best opponents. He had uncommon longevity. Won the title 3 times even thought the Spinks loss stinks to high heaven. ( when you have charisma you can get away with alot.)

I think Sugar RAY Robinson is the legit GOAT. Robinson actually had as much impact on boxing and sports as Ali did. Just the way he carried himself in negotiations. He was forward thinking. Many of the things Ali was known for he got from Sugar Ray. The entourage for example.