BoxRec

Which was Muhammad Ali's best career win?

Normally you could say the win in the second fight against Liston was the best, because Liston was great and Ali knocked Liston out in the first round. He moved very well and the punch was well-done. But the problem ist that the fight was maybe faked. The thrilla in Manilla was incredible but Ali was lucky to win. He would have given up if Fraziers coach wouldent have thrown the towel, Frazier actually wanted to continue. I think the best wins were over Cleveland Williams and George Foreman. Against Williams he showed maybe the most impressive and superior boxing performance in heavyweight history, agaisnt Foreman he beat maybe the most dangerous boxer ever and proofed that he had a plan b after he had to realize that he couldent dance arround foreman like he actually wanted. Because of the fact that Williams was actually shot when he was fighting Ali i decide for the fight against foreman who was absolutlely in his prime in 1974.

Manila. None of his wins was as hard as that one.

Depends on what is meant by best win.

Best performance?
Best opponent at the time of the fight?
Best considering his the stage of his career?

There are different answers for each of these.

For performance, probably Williams, first Liston and Patterson fights would be close. As would Folley, which wasn't a voting option. Several others in the 1960s not that far behind.

Best opponent? Foreman, followed by Frazier, and then Liston. Of course Patterson and Norton were great, and several others were very good.

Stage of his career is tough. Several you go with.

Alis best Performance was V Williams, the tragedy was Politics robbed him of his best yrs and he was never the sane after the 43 Month Exile.

Prime Ali's; KO1 Sonny Liston via Phantom Punch.

Post-Prime Ali's; the initial thought would be KO8 Foreman, but KO14 Frazier was as impressive as Foreman because stylistically, Frazier's style was too difficult for Ali's style, and Ali still won.

I'd have to go with Foreman.

He was a major underdog going in, and yet he won so convincingly that it basically took George a full decade of reflection and psychological growth to get over that defeat...and still go on to great things.