The Ali aftertaste....

[Joe Beamish]

The greatest HW yes but greatest boxer ever to fight, I can't say he is.

Look at his movement in the ring, and his ring generalship. He controlled distance and made much stronger men essentially helpless.

Look at the way he moved. He moved prettier than anyone at any weight, which is saying a lot.

He used that jab more brilliantly than perhaps any boxer in history.

Technically, he didn't do as many things as many great boxers. He rarely threw a body shot. His defense wasn't perfect.

But he handled his own repertoire of skills so incredibly well -- and in the service of such a brilliant resume -- YES, Ali could be the greatest BOXER of all time.

I always ask, "But who did he beat?" And Ali comes up at the top in that criterion. He beat greater fighters than anyone, at their peak.

[Bozbay]

ATG jab: check

ATG right hand: check

ATG double left hook: check

ATG handspeed: check

ATG chin: check (greatest chin ever possibly)

ATG resume: check

ATG athletic ability: check

ATG longevity: check

Overrated? Yeah sure.

I'm not saying he is overrated please just interpret what I am saying properly please. I am saying that there have been better boxers. Please interpret in right way

[Bozbay]

Look at his movement in the ring, and his ring generalship. He controlled distance and made much stronger men essentially helpless.

Look at the way he moved. He moved prettier than anyone at any weight, which is saying a lot.

He used that jab more brilliantly than perhaps any boxer in history.

Technically, he didn't do as many things as many great boxers. He rarely threw a body shot. His defense wasn't perfect.

But he handled his own repertoire of skills so incredibly well -- and in the service of such a brilliant resume -- YES, Ali could be the greatest BOXER of all time.

I always ask, "But who did he beat?" And Ali comes up at the top in that criterion. He beat greater fighters than anyone, at their peak.

I understand but please understand what I am saying. So many people's opinion of Ali being the greatest boxer ever is influenced by his personality and outside of the ring achievements that it's near impossible for the world to be convinced there will ever be another fighter. That is what I am saying

[soul_survivor]

I'm not saying he is overrated please just interpret what I am saying properly please. I am saying that there have been better boxers. Please interpret in right way

Who has been a better boxer? Ray Robinson? Who else?

There have been very few fighters who even come close to Ali in terms of all round ability. Someone like Pep may be regarded as a better defensive technician but was he as fleet of foot? Did he have as great a chin? Was he better offensively?

Some may point to Armstrong, but did he have the finesse of Ali? The intelligence? The beauty? No.

Ali did a lot of unorthodox things, he wasn't text book in the way he avoided punches or threw his jab or moved around the ring, but at his absolute best, was there anyone better to watch? Maybe one or two other names pop up (Robinson or Leonard) but again, there really isn't anyone else.

If you're saying he wasn't the best in terms of technical ability, I'd agree but he didn't need to absorb a boxing encyclopedia because he didn't need it. That doesn't make him any less of a boxer.

[Joe Beamish]

I understand but please understand what I am saying. So many people's opinion of Ali being the greatest boxer ever is influenced by his personality and outside of the ring achievements that it's near impossible for the world to be convinced there will ever be another fighter. That is what I am saying

Probably everybody gets what you're saying. It's not new.

You'll have to put some names out there. Who's a better boxer than Ali? And what exactly does "better boxer" mean?

To me, the greatest boxer doesn't just have skills. He uses those skills to defeat truly great competition.

Anyway, who is better than Ali?

I might say Sugar Ray Robinson was better (a common name.) But frankly I don't think SRR beat many truly great fighters. Sorry.

I might say Sugar Ray Leonard. His resume may actually trump Ali's as the best of all time. (SRL defeated Benitez, Duran, Hearns, Hagler. Holy crap that's good.)

Sugar used a lot of Ali's skills and approach to become what he did. He was able to win fights both by boxing and brawling (Hearns fight.) He did so much.

But who do YOU think was better than Ali?

[Bozbay]

Probably everybody gets what you're saying. It's not new.

You'll have to put some names out there. Who's a better boxer than Ali? And what exactly does "better boxer" mean?

To me, the greatest boxer doesn't just have skills. He uses those skills to defeat truly great competition.

Anyway, who is better than Ali?

I might say Sugar Ray Robinson was better (a common name.) But frankly I don't think SRR beat many truly great fighters. Sorry.

I might say Sugar Ray Leonard. His resume may actually trump Ali's as the best of all time. (SRL defeated Benitez, Duran, Hearns, Hagler. Holy crap that's good.)

Sugar used a lot of Ali's skills and approach to become what he did. He was able to win fights both by boxing and brawling (Hearns fight.) He did so much.

But who do YOU think was better than Ali?

In terms of boxing alone, I think Ray Leonard and Floyd have only just surpassed him. That's it

[soul_survivor]

In terms of boxing alone, I think Ray Leonard and Floyd have only just surpassed him. That's it

I can understand mentioning Leonard, who was possibly a better offensive fighter than Ali ever was and has a terrific resume but how do you suppose Floyd ranks so highly? His resume isn't as good and his offensive ability isnt the best of his own generation/decade/century let alone all time.

But, for arguments sake, let's assume I take on board both names, you have only been able to rank 2 men higher than Ali in the history of boxing, considering Ali's peak was some 4 decades earlier...doesn't that tell you something?

[Joe Beamish]

In terms of boxing alone, I think Ray Leonard and Floyd have only just surpassed him. That's it

I might put Leonard next to Ali as the top two. I can't put Floyd there. He didn't beat anyone great in their prime.

Ali beat a prime Liston twice, a prime Frazer twice, and a prime Foreman.

Leonard beat a prime Benitez, a near prime Duran, and a prime Hearns.

Floyd beat a De La Hoya and a Mosely both way, way, way past their prime. And he beat Cotto and Pacquaio, both still decent, but considerably past their best. Great career, great resume, but not tops.

[Bozbay]

I can understand mentioning Leonard, who was possibly a better offensive fighter than Ali ever was and has a terrific resume but how do you suppose Floyd ranks so highly? His resume isn't as good and his offensive ability isnt the best of his own generation/decade/century let alone all time.

But, for arguments sake, let's assume I take on board both names, you have only been able to rank 2 men higher than Ali in the history of boxing, considering Ali's peak was some 4 decades earlier...doesn't that tell you something?

I could give you so many reasons for Floyd man but I just want to know, why is his offence not great?

Once again man, you're not understanding what I am saying. What is the point lol

[SalimShady1212]

Only boxer to become the undisputed lineal champion 3 times, and even beat a prime George Foreman who then became a world champion at 46 in a new era which just shows how good Ali would have been. Of course there have been more skillful boxers but what he did outside the ring is part of the overall package which makes him the so called "GOAT".