BoxRec

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:34 I'd give it to Joe Frazier for beating Ali in 1971 because I think Muhammad Ali is one of the all time greatest fighters period, and the gap between him and Frazier as far as legacy is pretty large, but the gap between them that night, didn't exist at all.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:09

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:34 I'd give it to Joe Frazier for beating Ali in 1971 because I think Muhammad Ali is one of the all time greatest fighters period, and the gap between him and Frazier as far as legacy is pretty large, but the gap between them that night, didn't exist at all.

You don't think the three year gap made it easier for Frazier?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:13

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:09

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:34 I'd give it to Joe Frazier for beating Ali in 1971 because I think Muhammad Ali is one of the all time greatest fighters period, and the gap between him and Frazier as far as legacy is pretty large, but the gap between them that night, didn't exist at all.

You don't think the three year gap made it easier for Frazier?

Ali was still the best Heavyweight of the decade in the 1970's was he not? He had just TKO'd the #1 contender, and won another bout via a 15th round TKO a few short months prior to fighting Frazier.

Whether we saw Rusty Ali, Peak Frazier or a combination of the 2. I give Frazier the benefit of the doubt that he was facing an Ali that was as prepared as he could've been, and considering all that Ali had already achieved and would continue to achieve in the decade, being the 1st man to defeat him is about as big as it gets.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 10:46 Which is the greatest win in boxing history?

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:44

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:13

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:09

You don't think the three year gap made it easier for Frazier?

Ali was still the best Heavyweight of the decade in the 1970's was he not? He had just TKO'd the #1 contender, and won another bout via a 15th round TKO a few short months prior to fighting Frazier.

Whether we saw Rusty Ali, Peak Frazier or a combination of the 2. I give Frazier the benefit of the doubt that he was facing an Ali that was as prepared as he could've been, and considering all that Ali had already achieved and would continue to achieve in the decade, being the 1st man to defeat him is about as big as it gets.

It's a massive achievement no question, but it would have been MUCH better if Ali hadn't had three years out. He might have still been the best of the 70's, but he would have been better without the layoff.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:52

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:44

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:13

Ali was still the best Heavyweight of the decade in the 1970's was he not? He had just TKO'd the #1 contender, and won another bout via a 15th round TKO a few short months prior to fighting Frazier.

Whether we saw Rusty Ali, Peak Frazier or a combination of the 2. I give Frazier the benefit of the doubt that he was facing an Ali that was as prepared as he could've been, and considering all that Ali had already achieved and would continue to achieve in the decade, being the 1st man to defeat him is about as big as it gets.

It's a massive achievement no question, but it would have been MUCH better if Ali hadn't had three years out. He might have still been the best of the 70's, but he would have been better without the layoff.

It could've also meant that his body would've been used up by 1975 instead of 1978. We'll never know for sure what effect the layoff had on Ali or the fight with Frazier, but beating Ali when he's still the undefeated Champion is as big a win as any Heavyweight ever recorded.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:58

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:52

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:44

It's a massive achievement no question, but it would have been MUCH better if Ali hadn't had three years out. He might have still been the best of the 70's, but he would have been better without the layoff.

It could've also meant that his body would've been used up by 1975 instead of 1978. We'll never know for sure what effect the layoff had on Ali or the fight with Frazier, but beating Ali when he's still the undefeated Champion is as big a win as any Heavyweight ever recorded.

Big, not the biggest IMO. Leonard's comeback win is unmatched for my money.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:48

elmersalsa wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 10:46 Which is the greatest win in boxing history?

What was your reasoning behind LaMotta's win over SRR not getting a mention?

elmersalsa wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 15:13

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:48

elmersalsa wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 10:46 Which is the greatest win in boxing history?

What was your reasoning behind LaMotta's win over SRR not getting a mention?

Sugar Ray Robinson already beat Jake LaMotta the first time around. Then, beat him 4 more times.

LaMotta was a middleweight.
Robinson a welterweight.
No world title was at stake.
It wasn't a box office fight, like Louis-Schmeling or Dempsey-Tunney for a few examples.

Seamus wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 16:07 Greb over Tunney from that bunch

Other alltime bests that deserve a mention

Saddler KO 4 Pep
Robinson KO 5 Fullmer
Armstrong W15 Ross
McLarnin KO1 Corbett
Holyfield KO4 Qawi

goose 5 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 20:34 I like Saddler over Pep in 1948 because of Pep's greatness, even taking into consideration Pep's plane crash. Also, Saddler destroyed him.