I pretty much agree with Cerek that Ali was the best. I was able to find
*this* description of a computer simulation done in 1967 to determine the all-time heavyweight champion boxer of the world. A panel of boxing experts decided on 16 fighters, and rated each one in 58 different categories. Then they ran an elimination tournament. The final match came down to Ali vs. Rocky Marciano. Winner by KO in the 13th was ... aaah, I'm gonna make you go read it for yourselves.
Anybody know of a more recent tournament like this?
EDIT: oops. Gotta confess I read the intro to that site then skipped ahead to the ending. Rereading the full description showed Ali taken out early. Apparently Ali complained about it so they worked up a match with Marciano, who'd won the tourny. THAT was the 13th round knockout...
[ 03-11-2005, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: VulcanRider ]