Ali is over hyped, Ray Robinson was a hell alot better!

[Evil Abed]

You could also argue Benny Leonard and Sam Langford above Ali as well

[SryNoAutographs]

Ali has always said that SSR was the GOAT.

Ali gets more press becuase his life in and out of the ring.

Exactly, straight to the point..

[jtiger777]

they are all the greatest at what they do....

[edgarg]

You could also argue Benny Leonard and Sam Langford above Ali as well

I agree that Ali was over-hyped. It all began because Liston prepared for a 2 rd fight, instead of a 15 rd'er. That he was about 48 years old, when that was OLD for a boxer, didn't help. Because of that, Ali began to call himself "The Greatest" and people began to believe it. That he was a noisy, talkative personality helped.

Nat Fleischer (Mr. Boxing) The Founder and publisher of RING, until he died in 1972, was around for much of Ali's career, and said many times that Ali had some very bad boxing habits, and when he slowed down he'd begin to find it tough. And that's what happened. And that's why he is so handicapped today.

He was at ringside for every important fight from 1905 onwards, saw all the greats many times, knew them, including the experts, trainers etc. and always said that the best heavyweight was Jack Johnson, that nobody ever really saw him at his best because he was so good that he toyed with his opponents. Would KD them and catch them before they fell to keep them up, and prolong the fights so as to give the cash customers value for their money etc. (This was common for black fighters to do) You can actually see this in some of his fights.

And he put Joe Louis in second place, and Dempsey in 3rd. He said that Dempsey was finished before he fought Tunney, and had been retired out in Hollywood for 3 years before the first Tunney fight.

I believe him. But he never saw Mike Tyson, or the Klitschkos. Or Lewis.

[edgarg]

I agree that Ali was over-hyped. It all began because Liston prepared for a 2 rd fight, instead of a 15 rd'er. That he was about 48 years old, when that was OLD for a boxer, didn't help. Because of that, Ali began to call himself "The Greatest" and people began to believe it. That he was a noisy, talkative personality helped.

Nat Fleischer (Mr. Boxing) The Founder and publisher of RING, until he died in 1972, was around for much of Ali's career, and said many times that Ali had some very bad boxing habits, and when he slowed down he'd begin to find it tough. And that's what happened. And that's why he is so handicapped today.

He was at ringside for every important fight from 1905 onwards, saw all the greats many times, knew them, including the experts, trainers etc. and always said that the best heavyweight was Jack Johnson, that nobody ever really saw him at his best because he was so good that he toyed with his opponents. Would KD them and catch them before they fell to keep them up, and prolong the fights so as to give the cash customers value for their money etc. (This was common for black fighters to do) You can actually see this in some of his fights.

And he put Joe Louis in second place, and Dempsey in 3rd. He said that Dempsey was finished before he fought Tunney, and had been retired out in Hollywood for 3 years before the first Tunney fight.

I believe him. But he never saw Mike Tyson, or the Klitschkos. Or Lewis.

Sorry about the typo I meant 38 years old.

[Evil Abed]

Sorry about the typo I meant 38 years old.

Its cool.

Press the edit button next time.

No need for a second post.

[tangalog2200]

the reason Ali is always going to be heralded as the GOAT by commoners is because of the larger than life figure he was outside the ring..but in the ring SRR will always be the GOAT to me..

please clarify what do you mean by commoners....there seems to be a tinge of discrimination here

[Check_hooks]

Ali is not over hyped. If anything he is under hyped. Having said that SRR was P4P better.

[Left Hook Tua]

tbh i think ali has the more impressive resume.

ray might be better skilled and better technically but i like ali's resume.

[Jim Jeffries]

You could also argue Benny Leonard and Sam Langford above Ali as well

Ali was a great fighter with a magnificent resume, no doubt the first or second greatest HW that ever lived. But he was larger than most of his opponents, which hurts him in p4p rankings. No way he is top 3.