The Greatest: A tribute to Muhammad Ali's boxing career

The world is mourning Muhammad Ali’s passing today. He had a massive global impact both inside and outside the boxing ring.

My tribute will solely focus on his boxing career, highlighting his greatest fights.

Ali was a unique heavyweight, especially in his early years. He was light on his feet and relied on his speed, movement and boxing skill. That’s an unusual combination of ability for a heavyweight, even today. “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” became his catchphrase.

He turned pro after winning the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, when he was known by his birth name of Cassius Clay. He was just 18 years old and beat Australian bronze medallist Tony Madigan in the semi final.

Ali finished his pro career 21 years later with a 56-5 record. He went on too long, losing 3 of his last 4 fights, but keep in mind he wasn’t allowed to fight for 3 and a half years during the prime of his career, after refusing to be inducted into the US army during the Vietnam war.

Here is my top 5 list of Ali’s fights, in chronological order.

1964 – TKO (7) victory over Sonny Liston (35-1) in Miami.
Ali (20-0) was 22 years old and a 7-1 underdog heading into this fight against the reigning world heavyweight champion. But his speed and boxing ability made Liston look slow, and Liston retired on his still at the end of the 7th round.

1971 – UD loss to Joe Frazier (26-0) at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Smokin’ Joe Frazier had become the world heavyweight champion during Ali’s suspension, and the bout between the two unbeaten fighters upon Ali’s return was billed as the “Fight of the Century”.

It lived up to expectations, setting up a trilogy of classic fights between the pair. Frazier won this first bout by a unanimous points decision, and dropped Ali with a classic left hook in the last round.

1974 – UD victory over Joe Frazier (30-1) at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The rematch of the “Fight of the Century” was 3 years in the making, and new world heavyweight champion George Foreman had defeated Frazier in the meantime, destroying him with 6 knockdowns in 2 rounds in 1973.

Ali turned the tables on Frazier in the rematch, winning another classic battle by unanimous decision. The stage was set for a decider, but Ali wanted the regain the world heavyweight title against the undefeated Foreman first.

1974 – KO (8) victory over George Foreman (40-0) in Zaire, Africa.
Like he had been against Liston ten years earlier, Ali was a heavy underdog against Foreman, who was a knockout specialist. The fight was billed as the “Rumble in the Jungle”.

By this time, Ali had lost a lot of the speed on his feet that was his trademark early in his career. Instead, he employed a tactic that became known as “rope-a-dope”. In the searing African heat, Ali lay on the ropes for most of the fight, defending stoutly.

Foreman wasn’t used to going past a few rounds, and he tired badly after throwing round after round of punches. Towards the end of Round 8, Ali struck Foreman with a combination. An exhausted Foreman slumped to the canvas, and was unable to beat the count.

Ali had pulled off a stunning upset, and was the world heavyweight champion once more.

1975 – RTD (14) victory over Joe Frazier (32-2) in Manila.
The third and deciding bout between Ali and Frazier was billed as the “Thrilla in Manila”. Like their previous two fights, it lived up to expectations.

Both fighters gave it their all, but despite Frazier’s protests, his corner wouldn’t let him come out for the last round. Both his eyes were closed.

The Ali/Frazier trilogy is regarded by many boxing historians as the greatest rivalry in the history of the sport.

This video below provides some highlights of his amazing career (with a catchy 1970s tribute song too).

Which fight do you rate as Ali’s best?