1-Sonny Liston
2-George Forman
3-Joe Frazier
4-Ken Norton
5-Floyd Patterson
6-Jimmy Young
7-Ernie Shavers
8-Oscar Bonevena
9-Jerry Quarry
10-Jimmy Elliss,Joe Bugner,Ron Lyle,Ernie Terrell

I left off Archie Moore and Larry Holmes.Moore because he was 49 years old,and Holmes because Ali was washed up and way past his prime.

I would like to see what others believe were the 10 best fighters that Muhammad Ali fought.....In order 1 through 10.

1: George Foreman
2: Joe Frazier
3: Sonny Liston
4: Floyd Patterson
5: Ken Norton
6: Jerry Quarry
7: Earnie Shavers
8: Oscar Bonavena
9: Ernie Terrel
10: Jimmy Young

I left out Holmes and Moore just like you so the names are quite similar.

I do believe Sonny Liston deserves the top spot.Ron Lyle should be up in the top 5 and Jimmy Young deserves no such place in this list.Jimmy Young's claim to fame is losing a gift decision to a fat Ali and losing a close decision to a severely weakened Ken Norton.His wins over Ron Lyle and Foreman are definitely suspect.

1-Sonny Liston
2-George Forman
3-Joe Frazier
4-Ken Norton
5-Floyd Patterson
6-Jimmy Young
7-Ernie Shavers
8-Oscar Bonevena
9-Jerry Quarry
10-Jimmy Elliss,Joe Bugner,Ron Lyle,Ernie Terrell

I left off Archie Moore and Larry Holmes.Moore because he was 49 years old,and Holmes because Ali was washed up and way past his prime.

I would like to see what others believe were the 10 best fighters that Muhammad Ali fought.....In order 1 through 10.

No love for George Chuvalo?

When will fools stop considering Liston prime when Clay beat him? You don't get much more obvious when a fighter is past it. Guess if Ali was the first guy to KO Roy Jones they would have called Jones prime too.

So 7 months after destroying Patterson (for the second time) in the first round, Sonny was shot to *****?

When will fools stop considering Liston prime when Clay beat him? You don't get much more obvious when a fighter is past it. Guess if Ali was the first guy to KO Roy Jones they would have called Jones prime too.




I do hope that post wasn't directed towards me,dunce.We've seen what happens you are called out on certain claims,you run away like a little girl,not to be seen for weeks.


Now point out one such post in this thread in which anyone claimed Liston was in his prime.



Since when is vaseline used for butt sex?





:dunce:

foreman
frazier
liston
norton
patterson
lyle
quarry
shavers
boneva
chuvalo

When will fools stop considering Liston prime when Clay beat him? You don't get much more obvious when a fighter is past it. Guess if Ali was the first guy to KO Roy Jones they would have called Jones prime too.

So 7 months after destroying Patterson (for the second time) in the first round, Sonny was shot to *****?

that right there.......Liston was coming off 2 devastating knockouts over Floyd Patterson and that made him past prime??? get the **** outta here and stop trying to belittle Ali's opponents

that right there.......Liston was coming off 2 devastating knockouts over Floyd Patterson and that made him past prime??? get the **** outta here and stop trying to belittle Ali's opponents

Liston was between 32 and 38 years old and had fought a total of 6 rounds in the previous 3 years and came in at the second highest weight of his career. Liston was still a great fighter, but I don't think he was prime either.

Liston was between 32 and 38 years old and had fought a total of 6 rounds in the previous 3 years and came in at the second highest weight of his career. Liston was still a great fighter, but I don't think he was prime either.

well age played no factor seeing as though he was a similar age when he killed Patterson......he came in the second highest weight in his career because he thought Ali was going to be a pushover and didn't give his 100% in training camp and IMO Liston was a prime fighter who was just taking his opponent lightly

well age played no factor seeing as though he was a similar age when he killed Patterson......he came in the second highest weight in his career because he thought Ali was going to be a pushover and didn't give his 100% in training camp and IMO Liston was a prime fighter who was just taking his opponent lightly

I would think that the lack of rounds in the previous years would be a major factor against a fighter such as Ali. Patterson was just to small with a chin that wasn't that good. He was also scared ****less in my opinion, much the way Spinks came in against Tyson. I do agree with his weight and probably not giving 100% in training camp though.

Out of curiosity how do you think the 1959 Liston does against the 1964 Ali?

I would think that the lack of rounds in the previous years would be a major factor against a fighter such as Ali. Patterson was just to small with a chin that wasn't that good. He was also scared ****less in my opinion, much the way Spinks came in against Tyson. I do agree with his weight and probably not giving 100% in training camp though.

Out of curiosity how do you think the 1959 Liston does against the 1964 Ali?

Probably the same way anyone would do against a 64-67 Ali.

Probably the same way anyone would do against a 64-67 Ali.
yes i agree......1964-67 Ali beats any heavyweight in history, and a much younger, more focused Liston will have the same outcome IMO

well age played no factor seeing as though he was a similar age when he killed Patterson......he came in the second highest weight in his career because he thought Ali was going to be a pushover and didn't give his 100% in training camp and IMO Liston was a prime fighter who was just taking his opponent lightly
Patterson in my opinion was a light-heavy would have possibly been the best of all time, had he dropped down a division.. He was pretty delicate when compared to Ali, and had no business being anywhere near whatever version of Liston..
Because of the 2 fights with Floyd, Liston hadn't had anywhere near enough target practice to be facing off against someone of Ali's calibre..
Due to the controversy surrounding his age, it's difficult to put a finger on when exactly he was prime. I'd suggest around the time he beat Eddie Machen and Cleve Williams, but it's pretty open to debate really.. Two things we can be sure of though, is at the time of fighting Ali, he was well over 30 and suffering from ring-rust..

I'll make an alternative list of who I thought gave Ali the best outings:-

1. Norton
2. Frazier
3. Jones
4. Chuvalo
5. Shavers
6. Bonavena
7. Young
8. Bugner
9. Foreman
10. Folley/Cooper

Patterson in my opinion was a light-heavy would have possibly been the best of all time, had he dropped down a division.. He was pretty delicate when compared to Ali, and had no business being anywhere near whatever version of Liston..
Because of the 2 fights with Floyd, Liston hadn't had anywhere near enough target practice to be facing off against someone of Ali's calibre..
Due to the controversy surrounding his age, it's difficult to put a finger on when exactly he was prime. I'd suggest around the time he beat Eddie Machen and Cleve Williams, but it's pretty open to debate really.. Two things we can be sure of though, is at the time of fighting Ali, he was well over 30 and suffering from ring-rust..

I'll make an alternative list of who I thought gave Ali the best outings:-

1. Norton
2. Frazier
3. Jones
4. Chuvalo
5. Shavers
6. Bonavena
7. Young
8. Bugner
9. Foreman
10. Folley/Cooper

I also put Liston to be near his prime sometime around the cleveland williams fight. Interesting about Liston's age and many also think Hagler's age is not accurate. Many claim he really was like 3 or 4 years older.

Per ALI- Shavers hit him harder than any fighter he ever faced and i do think it was one of his most challenging fights. I still think the Liston fight makes it in the list mainly because of Cassius Clay's young age and fighting for the world title and Liston was still a feared fighter than. It was still a great upset.

Probably the same way anyone would do against a 64-67 Ali.

yes i agree......1964-67 Ali beats any heavyweight in history, and a much younger, more focused Liston will have the same outcome IMO

Im talking specifically the 64 Ali who beat Liston the first time around. Liston was a different animal in 59, faster, more active and cutting a wide path thru the heavyweight division.

I believe he gets to Ali much more easily maybe even dropping Ali sometime before the 7th. I think Liston would start to tire from chasing Ali about the 10th round and Ali's speed would become more noticeable down the stretch as he went on to win a close but UD. Scores would be in the ball park of 8-7, 9-6. But this would be a much closer fight than the old inactive Liston Ali fought in 64. That there can be little doubt of.

I do believe Sonny Liston deserves the top spot.Ron Lyle should be up in the top 5 and Jimmy Young deserves no such place in this list.Jimmy Young's claim to fame is losing a gift decision to a fat Ali and losing a close decision to a severely weakened Ken Norton.His wins over Ron Lyle and Foreman are definitely suspect.

i agree with you... Jimmy Young was nothing special and was very fortunate to get the nod over George Foreman..

i would include Cleveland Williams & Zora Folley to the list but this should be Ali`s Top 20 not Top 10... Cleve Williams was one of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history, he knocked out over 50 fighters, hitting one opponent so hard he broke the mans back and the guy had to go around on crutches for the rest of his life.. Ali said that if it was not for him being champion Zora Folley would have been champion during the 60s

Im talking specifically the 64 Ali who beat Liston the first time around. Liston was a different animal in 59, faster, more active and cutting a wide path thru the heavyweight division.

I believe he gets to Ali much more easily maybe even dropping Ali sometime before the 7th. I think Liston would start to tire from chasing Ali about the 10th round and Ali's speed would become more noticeable down the stretch as he went on to win a close but UD. Scores would be in the ball park of 8-7, 9-6. But this would be a much closer fight than the old inactive Liston Ali fought in 64. That there can be little doubt of.

nice post JAB, i agree with you

1-Sonny Liston
2-George Forman
3-Joe Frazier
4-Ken Norton
5-Floyd Patterson
6-Jimmy Young
7-Ernie Shavers
8-Oscar Bonevena
9-Jerry Quarry
10-Jimmy Elliss,Joe Bugner,Ron Lyle,Ernie Terrell

I left off Archie Moore and Larry Holmes.Moore because he was 49 years old,and Holmes because Ali was washed up and way past his prime.

I would like to see what others believe were the 10 best fighters that Muhammad Ali fought.....In order 1 through 10.
1. George Foreman
2. Joe Frazier
3. Sonny Liston
4. George Chuvalo
5. Ron Lyle
6. Earnie Shavers
7. Jimmy Young
8. Ken Norton
9. Floyd Patterson
10. Joe Bugner

bugner is in the list because he was young , experienced and big at the time they fought.
but the 3 bottom places in this list are not locks.
if someone has better idea about them , he might be true.

I also put Liston to be near his prime sometime around the cleveland williams fight. Interesting about Liston's age and many also think Hagler's age is not accurate. Many claim he really was like 3 or 4 years older.

Per ALI- Shavers hit him harder than any fighter he ever faced and i do think it was one of his most challenging fights. I still think the Liston fight makes it in the list mainly because of Cassius Clay's young age and fighting for the world title and Liston was still a feared fighter than. It was still a great upset.
Yeah, i've heard the rumour about Hagler actually being 38 when he fought Leonard.. Ex WBC Light heavyweight champ Dennis Andries is also supposed to be a lot older than listed.. Andries himself, doesn't have a clue how old he is..

I agree that Liston was the favourite and it was considered a shock when Ali beat him the 1st time, but too much emphasis had been put on his two 1 rnd KO's of Patterson..
If people had known that Ali had a cast iron chin back then, it would have probably been declared an evens fight.. TBH, both fights were a huge disappointment in the sense that Ali totally dominated Liston, but in turn, I also believe, that version of Ali would have probably dismantled Frazier in similar fashion too.. Sonny Liston definitely had much better days with other fighters, that's for sure..

1: George Foreman
2: Joe Frazier
3: Sonny Liston
4: Floyd Patterson
5: Ken Norton
6: Jerry Quarry
7: Earnie Shavers
8: Oscar Bonavena
9: Ernie Terrel
10: Jimmy Young

I left out Holmes and Moore just like you so the names are quite similar.

i second that list...