What were Muhammad Ali's 5 best fights?

[boxing boy]

1-1st Sonny Liston fight
2-George Foreman
3-Cleveland Williams
4-Trilla' in Manilla
5-2nd Jerry Quarry fight

What are your picks in order?

[GJC]

1-1st Sonny Liston fight
2-George Foreman
3-Cleveland Williams
4-Trilla' in Manilla
5-2nd Jerry Quarry fight

What are your picks in order?

I would throw in the Terrell fight too, as cruel as he was I never saw Ali box better.

[sonnyboyx2]

1/. Frazier 1
2/. Liston 1
3/. Patterson 1
4/. Frazier 3
5/. Foreman

[carlos slim]

1st liston fight - his footwork and head movement were on another level
2nd - cleveland williams - just a showcase
3rd floyd patterson he just dominated in every aspect, and patterson was considered fast
4th zora folley - because it was the last fight in his prime and he got a legit ko
5th foreman - more famous for the circumstances, he was not in his prime

[Miburo]

Depends on what you mean by "best": dominating performances or quality of wins?

[boxing boy]

1/. Frazier 1
2/. Liston 1
3/. Patterson 1
4/. Frazier 3
5/. Foreman

Interesting.Did you pick the Fight of the Century because of the circumstances that Ali fought Frazier under?

After the 3 1/2 year lay-off Ali did not have time to get ready for Frazier.He needed more tune-up fights,and said so himself.

Ali said he was SHOCKED at how tired he was after only 3 rounds against Quarry,and said he felt he would have lost if the fight went 10-15 rounds.He only had 6 weeks to get ready for Quarry after a 3 1/2 year lay-off.

He looked terrible against Oscar Bonevena,and it was apparent he needed more tune-up fights,and he told this to Angelo Dundee.But they had to take the Frazier fight when they did because the Supreme Court said they were ready to give a verdict on Ali's appeal any day on Ali's conviction of not joining the military.

Under the circumstances i have to agree with you that the 1st fight with Frazier was Ali's best fight.

[Vadrigar.]

1. Cleveland Williams
2. Liston I
3. George foreman
4. Joe frazier III
5. Zora folley

[tyger]

By best are we talking about best to watch or best wins?

[hayZ]

In terms of him performing:

1) Cleveland Williams fight
2) Sonny Liston 1 fight
3) Ernie Terrell fight
4) Patterson 1 fight
5) Joe Frazier Thrilla in Manilla

In terms of impact/history then:

1) George Foreman 1974
2) Sonny Liston 1964
3) Joe Frazier 1975
4) Joe Frazier 1974
5) Leon Spinks 1978

[boxing boy]

By best are we talking about best to watch or best wins?

We are talking about his best wins.