Muhammed Ali RIP

[Ancient Citizen]

Never really understood why he waa considered the 'Greatest'. For me its Ray Robinson. Best heavyweight, either Louis or Johnson.

Fraiser looked after him whilst he was away from the sport, was paid back with insults and had the public turn on him for being so called Uncle Sam. The way he goaded Liston. The way he cheated v Cooper. Just not how the best is meant to behave.

Always believed he got a pass on his cuntery, due to the way the war played out and his stance.

The saving grace is that he understood his wrongs and apologised. Just a shame Fraiser never got the limelight he deserved, instead died a broken, poor and bitter man.

Wish him well and hope his health mends.

He was certainly a charismatic character, and was certainly a brilliant boxer, but for me, he wasn't 'The Greatest.' His first fight against Liston was rigged,
I remember watching it via 'Telstar' with my dad live, and it was a laughable contest, the follow up fight was similar, and against Cooper, his corner cheated.
I disagree with the poster that said Ali was up and about after copping for Cooper's legendary vicious left hook, he was wobbling all over the place, his corner bought him
illegal time, and Cooper's tissue paper eyes did for him.
A great bloke though, and a sad day, RIP.

 

[bluealf]

Cracking punch

 

[Adidas Sharston]

Just watched Ali on 'This Is Your Life'.
His face was a picture when Joe Frazier showed up at the end. Joe told a great story about him driving round NY with Ali in his car.

 

[bluemoonmatt]

What a strange front page the sun opted to run with, not disrespectful or anything just nonsensical and weird

 

[bluemike]

• I think you completely underestimate the intimidation and often downright terror, Tyson brought to the ring. I am not saying he was technically a great boxer (actually I did say he was the greatest boxer, which was a lazy choice of words, because it's not what I meant). He was not great at the art of boxing in any technical sense. But he was so *incredibly* fast, so strong, so brutal, he frightened the living daylights out of his opponents and swatted them away, usually in the first round.

So could Ali, or Marciano or Robinson or any of the greats have out-boxed him? Of course. Would they have done? Who knows, but personally I think not.

Sonny Liston was at the time an unbeatable terror of the ring like Tyson in the late 80s

 

[bluemc1]

Read some shit on here FFS
Johnson better than Ali ?
Ali fought the best heavyweights for nearly 20 years and was never knocked out ( please don't mention Holmes )
3 years out and in 3rd fight goes in with Frazier
How many black fighters did Johnson beat and I can't see how anyone can have seen enough footage of Johnson to make a proper opinion on him
How many heavyweights did Louis and Johnson fight who would be considered in top 10 best heavyweights ever ? Now do the same with Ali
How many former Middleweights did Ali fight ?
In first Frazier fight there is a left hook in about 8th/9th round that buckles his knees, he's going down but somehow straightens his legs back up and pushes back up knowing what's waiting for him.
He really was the Greatest ever his achievements prove this
Go and watch the cooper knockdown and count the gap between rounds, he had an extra 5 seconds that's all and given his record for coming back from knockdowns and huge shots I'm going to say he would've come back v Cooper without those 5 seconds
And whoever said first Liston fight was rigged FFS

 

[bluemc1]

Sonny Liston was at the time an unbeatable terror of the ring like Tyson in the late 80s

One of the mentally weakest v one of the mentally strongest
I'm a huge Tyson fan but when people weren't scared and fought back he struggled and I think we know Ali wouldn't have been scared and would've fought back
Ali wins all day

 

[Ban-jani]

The greatest of all time.

We lost his best years as well.

Lots of people pretend to be boxing experts by claiming there was better but the majority in the game, who actually fucking know anything, say Ali.

RIP champ.

 

[Metalartin]

I think you completely underestimate the intimidation and often downright terror, Tyson brought to the ring. I am not saying he was technically a great boxer (actually I did say he was the greatest boxer, which was a lazy choice of words, because it's not what I meant). He was not great at the art of boxing in any technical sense. But he was so *incredibly* fast, so strong, so brutal, he frightened the living daylights out of his opponents and swatted them away, usually in the first round.

So could Ali, or Marciano or Robinson or any of the greats have out-boxed him? Of course. Would they have done? Who knows, but personally I think not.

The greatest of all time is pretty subjective should we base that on their achievements or pure skill or power etc? I have no problem with people calling Ali the greatest of all time because he's definitely one of them.

Robinson is regarded as the most technically gifted boxer of all time by many of the hardcore old timer experts, from what I hear(he had it all back foot, front foot, power in both hands, footwork, body movement all top notch) I would probably agree if only we had more decent footage of his fights(HD full colour would be a dream) I think a lot would be in agreement... a lot of Tyson fans were actually casuals IMO, who don't want to watch 12 rounders or a good back and forth they just want to watch a knockout and say "ooooh that's gotta hurt!" regardless of the level of opponent. I fully believe there's Ali fights you can point to that answer your question quite clearly though... Ali beat and knocked out a young, powerful, brutal Foreman as an aging veteran himself and (just like Tyson) there were many who he scared the living daylights out of including Tyson himself of an aging big George Foreman(well known in boxing circles and those that were close to Tyson).

Almost forgot to say RIP Ali Champ!

 

[TCIB]

A great ambassador for humanity who will will "observed" as vividly in death as he was in life.

R.I.P