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Boxing is all about contrasting styles, and being able to adjust. Ali was perhaps the greatest heavyweight of all time, and certainly faced the best overall competition. Joe Louis and Marciano had nowhere near the same level of competition. Mariciano, great as he was, fought the likes of Ezzard Charles and Jersey Joe Walcott in absolutley brutal battles. He won, but took major punishment from guys with nowhere near the amount of speed and mobility as Ali. I think Louis comes the closest, and I actually wrote a term paper years back trying to prove he was the greatest heavyweight. I kept the theme, but became convinced Ali was better in the end. Dempsey was good for a short time, and as popular in his time (or more so) than Ali, but I'm afraid if Tunney could pummel him Ali would have a much easier time. What's really incredible to me is watching Ali beat Foreman, then watching Foreman vs. Frazier. Classic big puncher vs. smaller puncher. I swear Foreman put Frazier practically vertical in the air a couple of times en route to knocking him down 6 times in one fight, yet Ali took the punishment. I don't care if he used the rope-a-dope to absorb some of the blows - it's still impressive.
Greatest fighter? Probably not Ali, but heavyweights are the most popular. Sugar Ray Robinson in his prime was better, and moved up several weight classes. I'd put him higher pound for pound. Same with Hammering Hank Armstrong, who held 3 titles concurrently. This was in the days with only 8 classes unlike today (with classes like super middleweight that were in essence created to give Sugar Ray Leonard his fifth weight class title) and only 1 title per class. Imagine someone today being the unified Featherweight, lightweight and welterweight champ at the same time. Impossible. I'd have to put others up there as well, but it's all subjective. Too bad boxing is in such a sad state today. Best sport in the world IMO.
[ 03-12-2005, 12:41 AM: Message edited by: Marathon ]
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