Ali imo was a superior boxer to any that followed him. imo
Watch the Rumble in the Jungle fight and the Thrilla in Manilla to guage his skill and toughness.
Remember that ALI lost a few(4?) years in his prime (26yrs old to 30yrs old) out of boxing to then came back and take the title off Foreman after six return bouts(Two against Frazier 1 loss,1 win.)at 32 yrs of age Three times he reclaimed the Heavyweight title.
The other classic was the Thrilla in Manilla against Smokin Joe Frazier, went 15 rounds of continual brutal boxing. The temperature that day in the ring was in the mid forties to high forties! Ali 33yrs of age, Frazier 31yrs. Watch the fight. I cant see any other boxers doing what those two did.
A couple of his later losses particularly the one against Larry Holmes, his former sparring partner, should never had gone ahead. Anyone who saw it, knows what I mean. Very disappointing to see ALI in the ring like that.
Ali judged
5 time Ring Magazine's fighter of the year
3 - time Heavyweight Champion
Sports illustrated ‘Sportsman of the Century’
International Boxing Hall of Fame
