Top 12 Reasons Why Muhammad Ali Is The Greatest

Today is the anniversary of the birth of the amazing athlete who changed boxing forever and, as we must each year, we take time to celebrate his life and career. Muhammad Ali’s death in 2016 caused the entire pugilistic world to stop and reflect upon the far-reaching legacy of a man who was, in many respects, truly bigger than boxing, bigger than sports. Without a doubt, Muhammad Ali will forever stand as one of the most influential and famous athletes in the entire history of athletic competition.

For those not entirely clear as to why Ali commands such respect and meant so much to so many, consider this list a sort of primer on the greatness of the man they call “The Greatest.” There has never been, and likely never will be, an athlete like Muhammad Ali. He was a truly great boxer but he was also a truly important world figure. Here are the reasons why he assumed such magnitude and had such a profound impact on both boxing and the culture at large.

12. A Fighting Champion: Unlike so many elite-level boxers of today, Muhammad Ali wanted to establish himself as a truly great boxer and he knew to do so meant staying active. To put his activity level into perspective, consider that in the span of five years, 1970 to ’75, he answered the bell twenty-two times, in the process giving sports fans his trilogy with Joe Frazier, two tough battles with Ken Norton, his unforgettable knockout over George Foreman, and wins over a host of elite-level contenders including Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Jimmy Ellis, George Chuvalo and Ron Lyle. Meanwhile, from 2010 to 2015, Wladimir Klitschko competed twelve times; Floyd Mayweather just nine. (Ed. note: To further keep this in perspective, guys like Harry Greb and Henry Armstrong fought more than twenty times in a single year.)

Ink drawing by Damien Burton.

11. Speed: There is little doubt that a prime Ali is the fastest heavyweight to have ever stepped through the ropes. His quickness and mobility was a revelation in the 1960s; big men simply did not move like that. His amazing speed and reflexes allowed him to introduce a level of artistry and elegance to heavyweight boxing which changed the public’s perception of the sport and pioneered new tactics and techniques. Years past his prime, Ali still enjoyed a decided speed advantage over most of his opponents, a testament to his astonishing athleticism.

Ali dancing in Zaire: his speed and mobility were extraordinary for a heavyweight.

10. Chin: One of the ironies of the career of Muhammad Ali is that for years the old-timers questioned his courage and toughness. They watched him dance and slip punches and concluded if he was ever hit squarely by a serious puncher he would fold up like a cheap suitcase. How wrong they were. In fact, Ali proved too tough for his own good. Precious few boxers in the history of the sport have withstood the kind of firepower Ali took from Frazier, Norton, Foreman, Shavers and Holmes. Ali was knocked down only four times in his career, by Sonny Banks, Henry Cooper, Joe Frazier and Chuck Wepner. And it should be noted the Wepner knockdown was the result of “The Bayonne Bleeder” stepping on Ali’s foot at the moment he landed a right hand to the ribs.

Ali takes a left hook from Frazier: his toughness was second to none.

9. A True World Champion: Few boxers have fulfilled the title of “world” champion the way Ali did. Instead of staying moored in one’s home country or in Las Vegas, like so many titlists of recent years, “The Greatest” trekked about the globe, boxing in such diverse locales as Switzerland, Malaysia, Ireland, Japan, Germany, the Philippines, and of course, Zaire, in the process cementing his status as a figure of global significance.

8. Sonny Liston: Charles “Sonny” Liston was a truly fearsome heavyweight. Incredibly strong and powerful, in 1964 he was regarded as just shy of invincible. An aura of menace surrounded this ex-con and former leg-breaker for the mob, his reputation so dark that many were of the conviction he did not merit the opportunity to fight for the world title, despite the fact he had defeated virtually every viable contender prior to facing champion Floyd Patterson. He then demolished Patterson inside of one round; in the rematch, he did the same.

Then known as Cassius Clay, Ali shakes up Liston and the world.

Thus, many were predicting a long and dominant championship reign for Liston and when he agreed to face the undefeated Cassius Clay in his first title defense, virtually every boxing pundit and expert foresaw an easy win for the champion. Instead, despite some underhanded tactics by Liston’s corner which saw Clay temporarily blinded during the match, the brash, young challenger “shook up the world” and completely outclassed Liston, compelling him to quit on his stool after round six.

7. The Return: Elite-level athletes rarely come back after lengthy lay-offs to re-establish themselves as the best of the best. Does anyone think that say Sidney Crosby, or Lebron James, or Tom Brady could sit out three-and-a-half seasons and then just pick up where they left off? Amazingly, after Ali finally won the right to return to boxing, he took on no soft touches, no tune-ups, but instead faced two dangerous top contenders, Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena, and then the champion, Joe Frazier, defeating the first two and giving “Smokin’ Joe” the toughest fight of his career to date.

After more than forty months out of the ring, Ali defeats Quarry.

6. The Louisville Lip: Early in his career, Ali witnessed professional wrestler Gorgeous George perform and realized that being loud, brash and boastful attracts attention and sells tickets. Thus, “The Louisville Lip” was born. But the significance of Ali’s rapping and rhyming went beyond stealing the limelight and bringing a renewed focus to the sport of boxing. For a young black man to be so cocky and outspoken in the 1960’s was nothing short of revolutionary, and with the aid of his natural charisma and wit, Ali introduced a whole new dimension to the idea of “Black Pride.” And it must be noted that he did not indulge in mere mindless name-calling and “trash talk” but went out of his way to offer intriguing opinions and insights on a wide range of topics as he recited poetry, quoted verses from the Koran, performed on Broadway and gave speeches at universities.

His non-stop jabbering and bold predictions earned him the moniker “The Louisville Lip.”

5. Joe Frazier: After Ali had been stripped of his world title and banned from boxing in 1967, it took time for the heavyweight division to find a worthy successor, but by 1970 “Smokin'” Joe Frazier had established himself as one of the most relentless and powerful big men fight fans had ever seen. Like a giant-sized Henry Armstrong, Frazier applied constant pressure, breaking down his opponents with a non-stop attack and maybe the best left hook in boxing history. Ali and Frazier were a study in contrasts while being virtual equals in terms of strength, courage and will to win, all of which made for an unforgettable rivalry. Frazier was victorious in their first great battle in 1971, one of the most significant fights ever and a match which not only transcended boxing, but sports itself; Ali won the next two clashes. Ali’s performances against Frazier in all three meetings are testament to his ring greatness and constitute a huge part of his legacy.

Ali in the trenches with Smokin’ Joe in Manila.

4. An All-Time Great Competitor: When it came to competing, Ali was ‘old-school.’ Which is to say, that while much of what Ali brought to boxing was new and unique, when it came to his chosen profession, Ali was not so different from the great battlers of decades past who loved to fight, loved to win, and wanted to prove themselves against the best competition available. It just so happens that Ali came along during the heavyweight division’s Golden Age; never before or since have their been so many big, tough, capable boxers in that weight class and Ali fought them all. He ducked no one; nor did he “marinate” matches or wait for anyone to get old or stale. Instead, the second someone challenged him or questioned his supremacy, he responded as all truly great competitors do and sought to prove himself again.

Ever a great competitor, Ali faces the dangerous Norton a third time.