Muhammad Ali 5

Ali was one of the greatest fighters of all time - that much is not up for debate; neither is the fact that he was the wittiest and most charismatic boxer ever. Whether he would have beaten the other great fighters had they met at their peak isn't clear - it is not cut and dried whether he could or not. It is never easy to compare sporting greats as they fought in different eras and against varying standards of opponents. Joe Louis (who became a good friend of Ali) said that had no doubts that he would have beaten Ali. What is irrefutable, is that Ali was by far the best heavywieght in the sixties. His demolition of Cleveland Williams is considered one of the best heavyweight boxing displays ever. It was Ali's finest hour. We mustn't forget that Ali was undefeated as a pro prior to his enforced lay-off in 1967. Although he was still a good fighter on his return in 1970, it was evident that, although still very good, he was not the same boxer he was once was. Ali could be enigmatic - He could show a nasty side, as witnessed in his bout against Canadian, Ernie Terrell - taunting and humilating the man mercillessly because he refused to call him Ali. It was a side to Ali that no one liked or admired. Conversly, he could also show great compassion, both in and out of the ring. Would he have beaten the likes of Marciano or Dempsey? I think in all probablity, at his best, he would have. As for Joe Louis? Who knows? Ali was once asked whether he thought he could defeat Mike Tyson, when Tyson was at the height of his powers; Ali replied, "I wouldn't even get into the ring with him - he'd kill me, he's an animal!" Who knows whether Ali said it in a tongue-in-cheek manner or not. What we do know is that Ali was a true one-off; a great athlete, a great fighter, and an icon to millions. We'll never see his like again.