Maybe people felt the same way after Dempsey retired, how people continued calling him champ until his death. I mean Jack Dempsey was a boxing immortal, the biggest start in the sport's history until the 1970's, and he'll never be forgotten, but the day Muhammad Ali fulfilled his promise and broke the fistic mold by knocking out a young and hungry George Foreman to become the biggest legend in boxing (arguably in sports) history, Jack was force to move aside.
Ali is the biggest star in boxing history and I can't imagine anyone knocking him from that position. That's my honest opinion.
As sure as eggs are eggs it will happen.... as it happens throughout sport.
Nobody thought that Fangio would be eclipsed in F1 then came Senna then Shumacher
Nobody thought Hogan would be eclipsed in golf then came the Golden Bear and now Woods.
for Samprass read Federer
etc etc and there will be more after these as sport advances through the ages ... I understand that you don't just refer to his boxing talent alone, however sooner or later there will be someone to eclipse him... but this is not to say he will be forgotten. A true legend.
its the internet age now. so u never know. look how much fame kimbo got.fuckin KIMBO!! let some1 really good come by that has charisma and all of that and then we will see how the internet era fairs
As for the topic of the thread...
I agree with the statement. Ali was that rare personality which demanded that everyone remember his name. His star power was unbelievable. It takes a perfect blend of charisma, talent and success in your given profession to achieve the kind of fame he had. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have also done the same type of thing. They are the face of their given sports and they are universally known.
I dont think that Tyson will be forgotten like some say he will. The guy was definitely bigger than boxing. I could ask about 30 of my friends who the greatest boxers of all-time are and they'd tell you Ali and Tyson (obviously they don't know anything but they do know that Tyson was "feared" and that he had his own video game).
He was certainly big enough here, in the UK and in parts of Asia.
You know you just made a brilliant counterpoint. If no less a famous athlete and American icon as Jack Dempsey has been forgotten with the passing years, the same might even happen for Ali in fifty years or so.
It's sad to think about.
Mike Tyson is well known in ma country, if you ask someone about Jack Dempsey you will get in 99 of 100 cases a frown.
There is too less materiel for the medias to show something from Dempsey
I had no idea who Dempsey was until I wanted to get a little more serious in boxing and found this site.
Mike Tyson is well known in ma country, if you ask someone about Jack Dempsey you will get in 99 of 100 cases a frown.
There is too less materiel for the medias to show something from Dempsey
tyson aint gonna be forgotten, hes boxing history, same as muhammed ali, any boxing champion is in the history books....but in 2070? i dont think ill be around that long but i bet the hws will all be over 300 pounds and wont have any stamina to go even the mandatory 9 rounds....(o wait im living in that shit right now...minus the 9 rounds)
mine?? its Marilyn Manson... hes a G!
Yeah it will be a long time until we have a boxer greater than Ali...but there is always someone out there who will be better, it comes in time... its just the way things are... Pele is the most known soccer player of all time, But if Ronaldino keeps playing the way he does he will reach that status maybe even higher. Its just the way things go.. Sooner or later there will come someone greater.... It might be a long as fucking time though!
when i went to india and wore a tyson t-shirt, everyone knew who he was. Trust me, he is huge!
Like i was trying to say before, kid. Maurice Richard was the first hockey player to become a National Celebrity, he was well ahead of his times. However as the sport evolved players became more well rounded, the goalies started wearing masks and the modern players surpassed him. None of the current hockey players will ever be as popular as gordie howe and maurice richard, however they are better players.
Mario Lemieux was the guy everyone claimed was going to surpass gretzky, everyone said tyson was gonna surpass ali. They had the potential to do it, however personal problems and injuries prevented it.
Honestly I don't think Mike is even a close second. Maybe in the US and UK Mike is big, but Ali is known and loved all over the world.
I think Mike Tyson is a little more heard just because his career is still fresh... In 2070, Ali will be the more well known. Mike Tyson might actually be mostly forgotten about.
Ali is like wayne gretzky, Tyson is like mario lemiuex, Jack Dempsey is Maurice richard. Thats how i look at it when it comes to comparing them to hockey players.
Remember kid achilles, Maurice the rocket Richard was HUGE in his days and hes an icon in montreal. However, guys like jagr and pavel bure surpassed him. I hope u know what i'm trying to say.
No one can deny that Ali is basically boxing's embassador to the world...
Every sport has a player that is the person you know of even if you don't know anything about it...
Baseball - Many, guys like Babe Ruth...
Basketball - Michael Jordan (Shaq as well and as of late Kobe Bryant)
Nascar - Jeff Gordan
Golf - Tiger Woods
Boxing - Muhammad Ali (well also Rocky but there both on par with each other in terms of popularity)
I just want everyone to keep in mind that I'm not lauding Ali as the greatest fighter in boxing history, but rather as the sports biggest star. He captured the public imagination and connecting with people the world over like no other athlete. Ali belongs to the world, not just the US.
I know. I'ts like baseball and Babe Ruth or something.