Muhammad Ali Once Named His 4 Greatest Boxers of All-Time

It is a testament to the greatness of 'The People's Champion', that even in 2025, his name is still widely spoken about as being the best in history. From winning Olympic Gold in the 1960 games, to claiming the heavyweight championship of the world aged just 22, Ali's career is virtually unmatched.

Muhammad Ali Named One Heavyweight Who Would've Beaten Him in His Prime

Muhammad Ali once revealed the one heavyweight he would have never been able to beat, even in his prime.

Even in spite of his titles and accomplishments, his involvement in some of the greatest boxing fights the sport has ever seen makes him one of the best athletes of all-time. His high-profile clashes against the likes of Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman, among others, are still talked about today.

Jack Johnson

One of the most influential boxers to have ever lived, Jack Johnson was the first black world heavyweight champion, with his fight in 1910 against James J. Jeffries being dubbed the "fight of the century". Johnson's victory over the white Jeffries, would spark race riots across the USA.

In an interview, Ali made clear that while he himself had been described as bold and arrogant, nothing measured to the sheer confidence that Johnson had and him having to deal with the very serious threat of racial violence. Indeed, before the championship fight with Jeffries, Johnson's opponent came out of retirement for the sole purpose of challenging him. Fellow American boxer, John L. Sullivan, delivered his comments after the fight.

Jack Dempsey

Nicknamed The Manassa Mauler, the Colorado-born Jack Dempsey was the world heavyweight champion for seven whole years, reigning at the top between 1919 and 1927. Ranked sixth on The Ring magazine's list of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history, Dempsey is in the Hall of Fame after a glittering career that saw him win 68 of his 83 total fights.

Featuring icons such as Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, boxing's 20 greatest heavyweights of all time have been ranked via a fan vote.

I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own. (Muhammad Ali)

Sugar Ray Robinson

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Ali was effusive in his praise and admiration of Robinson, and didn't hesitate in naming him the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in boxing history.

To me, in his time, and even today, the pound for pound, when they say 'Sugar' Ray Robinson was the greatest fighter pound for pound, meaning that if I'd imagine he was a heavyweight fighting the same style, he'd be the greatest.

I would have to admit, I would have to say yes, Robinson is the greatest of all time. I have his fight films, I watched them then, you have them. That man was beautiful. Timing, speed, reflexes, rhythm, his body. Everything was beautiful.

Joe Louis

I used to tease Joe Louis by reminding him that I was the greatest of all time. But Joe Louis was the greatest heavyweight fighter ever. (Muhammad Ali)

Louis' impact on the boxing world even transcended the sport, becoming a national hero in the United States of America as an African-American. Indeed, his rematch with German boxer Max Schmeling in 1938 saw Louis become a focal point for anti-Nazi sentiment leading up to World War II as well.

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