Sugar Ray Leonard vs Muhammad Ali - Who was greater?

[4Corners]

Ali has so many good or great fighters. Is there any relevant fighter from the 60s-70s that he didn't beat? I'd have to say he's greater than Leonard.

My point exactly. Ali fought in the Golden Era of HW boxing, the 60's and 70's, and beat everyone. Also, the sad thing is, we really only got see 3 1/2 prime years for Ali (1964-1967), where he absolutey dominated. Once he came back in late 1970, he was still really good, but not what he was before his layoff.

Ali's notable fights:

1962: Archie Moore- W TKO4
1963: Henry Cooper- W TKO5
1964: Sonny Liston- W RTD6
1965: Sonny Liston- W KO1
1965: Floyd Patterson- W TKO12
1966: George Chuvalo- W UD15
1966: Henry Cooper- W TKO6
1967: Ernie Terrell- W UD15
1970: Jerry Quarry- W TKO3
1970: Oscar Bonavena- W TKO15
1971: Joe Frazier- L UD15
1971: Jimmy Ellis- W TKO12
1972: George Chuvalo- W UD12
1972: Jerry Quarry- W TKO7
1972: Floyd Patterson- W TKO7
1973: Ken Norton- L SD12
1973: Ken Norton- W UD12
1974: Joe Frazier- W UD12
1974: George Foreman- W KO8
1975: Ron Lyle- W TKO11
1975: Joe Frazier- W RTD14
1976: Jimmy Young- W UD15
1976: Ken Norton- W UD12
1977: Earnie Shavers- W UD15
1978: Leon Spinks- L SD15
1978: Leon Spinks- W UD15
1980: Larry Holmes- L RTD10

From 1960-1963: Ali was young, entering his prime years.
From 1964-1967: Ali was prime.
From 1970-1975: Ali was past his prime-still good.
From 1976-1978: Ali was past his prime.
From 1980-1981: Ali was done.

Leonard's notable fights:

1979: Pete Ranzany- W TKO4
1979: Wilfred Benitez- W TKO15
1980: Dave Green- W KO4
1980: Robert Duran- L UD15
1980: Roberto Duran- W TKO8
1981: Ayub Kalule- W TKO9
1981: Thomas Hearns- W TKO14
1987: Marvin Hagler- W SD12
1988: Donny Lalonde- W TKO9
1989: Thomas Hearns- DRAW 12
1989: Roberto Duran- W UD12
1991: Terry Norris- L UD12
1997: Hector Comacho- L TKO5

From 1977-1978: Leonard was young, entering prime years.
From 1979-1984: Leonard was prime.
From 1987-1989: Leonard was past prime-still good.
In 1991: Leonard was his prime.
In 1997: Leonard was done.

So, they both had short primes and accomplished good things when they were past their primes-still good, but Ali just did a little more in his career. A name that people forget on Ali's resume is FLOYD PATTERSON. Yes, Floyd was past his prime in 65', but he was still good, and was on like a 5-6 fight win strike since being stopped by Liston.

To me, it's Ali, but Ray in definitely in the top 10 ATG, maybe top 5. He beat soem damn good people (Benitez, Duran, Hearns, Hagler). But, Ali beat everyone in his era, the best HW era of all-time.

[E-Thug]

Ali gets the vote for me

[IronDanHamza]

I'd say probably Ali.

I'd have them both raked around the same place.

[Thread Stealer]

Ali, for having the deeper resume and beating top fighters in his division for such a long period of time.

Leonard at his best was the more complete fighter though. You won't find many fighters more complete or versatile than an early 80s Ray.