Is Muhammad Ali the greatest heavyweight boxing champion of all time?

[freedom13]

Muhammad Ali African Americans - Muhammad Ali aka Cassius Clay, Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World Muhammad Ali at a news conference that he conducts from inside the ring in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 24, 1970 "I Am The Greatest" (b. January 17, 1942, Louisville, Ky.), African American heavyweight prizefighter, converted to Islam, antiwar protester, and international ambassador of goodwill. As the dominant heavyweight boxer of the 1960s and 1970s, Muhammad Ali won an Olympic gold medal, captured the professional world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions, and successfully defended his title 19 times. Ali's extroverted, colorful style, both in and out of the ring, heralded a new mode of media-conscious athletic celebrity. Through his bold assertions of black pride, his conversion to the Muslim faith, and his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War, Ali became a highly controversial symbol of the turbulent 1960s. Ali's 1981 retirement from boxing did not diminish his status in international public culture. Despite suffering from Parkinson's disease, he remained on the world stage as an adherent of the Nation of Islam, an advocate of children and war victims, and a proponent of international understanding. Ali has been described as "the most recognizable human being on earth." The Life and Times of Muhammad Ali in Pictures Muhammad Ali awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal The Louisville Years Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, the son of Marcellus Clay, a sign painter, and Odessa (Grady) Clay, a domestic worker. He was named for white Kentucky abolitionist Cassius M. Clay. Ali began boxing at the age of 12 under the tutelage of white Louisville policeman Joe Martin. Enraged one day to discover his bicycle missing, Ali resolved to "whup whoever stole it." Martin, wary of the problem of undisciplined adolescent belligerence in Ali's tough neighborhood, convinced the young Ali that such verbal boasts were best complemented by a mastery of the principles of boxing. An indifferent student who graduated 376th in his high school class of 391, Ali passionately devoted himself to amateur boxing, appearing in 108 bouts between 1955 and 1960. He won six Kentucky Golden Glove titles, two National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships, two National Golden Glove crowns, and the Gold Medal in the light heavyweight division in the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. Returning triumphantly from Rome to Louisville, Ali was bitterly disappointed at not being welcomed as an American hero in his segregated hometown. According to one story, after being refused service at a Louisville diner while wearing the Olympic Medal around his neck, Ali threw it into the Ohio River. Professional Boxing Career Ali's professional debut as a heavyweight came in October 1960 with a six-round decision over Tunny Hunsaker. Clay won his next 18 fights, 15 by knockouts. On February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida, Clay waged his first challenge for the heavyweight championship in a match against Sonny Liston. Though Liston was thought by many boxing experts to be invincible, the brash 22-year old Clay spent the weeks leading up to the fight entertaining reporters and fans with colorfully-worded promises of his impending victory. In one of the most stunning upsets in boxing history, Clay delivered on his promise, knocking Liston out in the seventh round. Shortly after the fight, Cassius Clay startled the sports world by announcing that he had joined the Nation of Islam and had changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Ali defended his heavyweight crown in nine matches over the next two years. His title was revoked in 1967 when, citing his Islamic faith, he refused induction into the United States military and was sentenced to a five-year prison term.

Who is the greatest heavyweight boxing champion of all time?

[Zhavric]

The guy was huge, but as fast as Bruce Lee.

Ali > all

[grandpa]

He is responsible for one of my favorite anti-war quotes: "Ain't no Vietcong ever called me nigger."

Grandpa h.

[freedom13]

Some of Ali famous quotes:

1. "Now you see me, now you don't. George thinks he will, but I know he won't!" Muhammad Ali taunting George Foreman
2. "Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change."
Muhammad Ali
3. "My way of joking is to tell the truth.
That's the funniest joke in the world."
Muhammad Ali
4. "If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize."
Muhammad Ali
5. "Prejudice comes from being in the dark; sunlight disinfects it."
Muhammad Ali
6. "Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong."
Muhammad Ali
7."I'm a Muslim. I've been a Muslim for 20 years. . . . You know me. I'm a boxer. I've been called the greatest. People recognize me for being a boxer and a man of truth. I wouldn't be here representing Islam if it were terrorist. . . . I think all people should know the truth, come to recognize the truth. Islam is peace."
Muhammad Ali speaking on September 21, 2001 at a fundraiser for victims of the WTC and Pentagon attacks.

[freedom13]

Ali apologize for what he said about Joe Frazier:

ESPN Classic - Frazier battled Ali in timeless trilogy One exchange came in 2001 after Ali told The New York Times he was sorry for what he said about Frazier before their first fight. At first, Frazier accepted the apology, but then … "He didn't apologize to me -- he apologized to the paper," Frazier said in a June issue of TV Guide. "I'm still waiting [for him] to say it to me."

[tinybear]

My answer to the question posed: Yes.

[Compugasm]

I seem to remember there used to be a cartoon about him. I don't recall ever watching it, but could you imagine a Lennox Lewis or a Rocky Marciano cartoon? I don't think you could even mention Tyson is/was the greatest. The Greatest, is more than just the performance in the ring.

[freedom13]

Quote by: Compugasm I seem to remember there used to be a cartoon about him. I don't recall ever watching it, but could you imagine a Lennox Lewis or a Rocky Marciano cartoon? I don't think you could even mention Tyson is/was the greatest. The Greatest, is more than just the performance in the ring.

Ali is considered to be the greatest heavy weight boxing champion of all time, because he stand up against an unjust war of the United States Government. Ali was a great champion in the ring and as well out of the ring.

Rocky Marciano vs Muhammad Ali
YouTube - Rocky Marciano -vs- Muhammad Ali 1969 | Promotional Trailer

Ali and Clinton

[Kronos]

Yeah i think ali was the greatest but tyson in his prime was the most feared and destructive fighter ever.....

Btw speaking of boxing the number 1 boxer in the world is coming to american shores [Joe Calzaghe], and he is going to chew up and spit out hopkins for breakfast, for me calzaghe is the best current boxer in the world, infact to me he has a shot at being the best ever...

I know he's not a heavyweight but he is stepping up to light heaveyweight to face hopkins...
Hopkins reminds me of jeff lacey before calzaghe destroyed him, hopkins will be next..

stats, says it all:

Professional Fight Statistics
Titles: WBO & IBF & The Ring Champion Belt
Fights: 43 Wins: 43 KOs: 32

Taken from joecalzaghe.com..
If you dont know who he is you soon will..
heres a link to his fight against kessler...
Joe Calzaghe vs Mikkel Kessler 4/4 - AOL Video

Sorry if im not aloud to put links to websites on here i dont know if i am or not...

[freedom13]

Yeah i think ali was the greatest but tyson in his prime was the most feared and destructive fighter ever.....

Yes, Mike Tyson was a great fighter, but being defeated by Buster Douglas started his downfall.

YouTube - Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas

Ali and Tyson

[freedom13]

Quote by: tinybear My answer to the question posed: Yes.

Yes, Ali is indeed a great champion.

Muhammad Ali On August 23, 1966, Muhammad Ali embarked on the biggest "fight" of his life when he applied with the Selective Service for conscientious objector status on religious grounds (as a minister with the Nation of Islam). In what became an extensive legal, political, professional, and personal battle, Ali was convicted of draft evasion, stripped of his boxing title, and became a lightning rod — and a voice — for opinions on the Vietnam War. Muhammad Ali's willingness to speak out against racism in the United States, and the affect it had on domestic and foreign policy, earned him many supporters and detractors. In 1971, nearly five years after it began, Ali's legal battle finally culminated with a unanimous decision (8-0 with Thurgood Marshall abstaining) by the United States Supreme Court overturning his draft conviction. The following resources document his struggle, his views, and his influence. Clay, aka Ali v. United States 1966-1971 Click here for resources detailing Muhammad Ali's fight against induction into the U.S. Army — from 1966 to 1971. It includes the full text of the Supreme Court decision (Clay, aka Ali v. United States), a 1967 CIA document describing a pro Ali rally, editorials and coverage from the Nation of Islam publication, Muhammad Speaks, and more. Ali's Vietnam Legacy Muhammad Ali's stance on Vietnam inspired admiration and hatred among many. Click here to find resources describing Ali's Vietnam legacy, including reactions to his being named "Athlete of the Century" by USA Today in late 1999, an Ali interview with National Public Radio from December 2001, in which Ali answers his critics, and more.

[freedom13]

Quote by: Zhavric The guy was huge, but as fast as Bruce Lee. Ali > all

Yes, Ali and Bruce Lee are two great legends...

Ali and Elvis

[freedom13]

Quote by: grandpa He is responsible for one of my favorite anti-war quotes: "Ain't no Vietcong ever called me nigger." Grandpa h.

Ali also known for the Rope-a-dope..

YouTube - Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman rd8ko

Rope-a-dope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Rope-a-dope is a boxing fighting style used most famously by Muhammad Ali (who coined the term) in the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman. The idea is for the boxer to lie on the ropes of a boxing ring, conserve energy and allow the opponent to strike him repeatedly in hopes of making him tire and open up weaknesses to exploit for an eventual counter-attack.

[PatC]

Had Tyson stayed out of prison and remained sane then it could be debatable, otherwise Ali is the greatest

[Chaossaber314]

Freedom13, I'm actually trying to get a poster version of the first pict you posted here.

[Ibn_Sina]

Could Ali beat Floyd Mayweather? If they were in the same weight level that is..

I think he could possibly knock Floyd out.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: PatC Had Tyson stayed out of prison and remained sane then it could be debatable, otherwise Ali is the greatest

I agree. Who knows what trajectory Tyson's career could have taken had he never gone to prison. That single event ruined him as a boxer.

[freedom13]

Quote by: Chaossaber314 Freedom13, I'm actually trying to get a poster version of the first pict you posted here.

If you are referring to the Ali and Sonny Liston poster, it can be locate at:
allposters.com