Muhammad Ali Said Heavyweight Legend Who Beat Him ‘Couldn’t Fight’: “He Had No Skills”

Muhammad Ali once criticised the credentials of a former opponent.

Best known by his alias ‘The Greatest’, Ali is often regarded as the greatest fighter to have ever laced up the gloves. His glittering professional career began in 1960, shortly after he picked up an Olympic Gold Medal at the Summer Games in Rome.

He captured the world heavyweight championship for the first time back in 1964 when he knocked out Sonny Liston in the sixth round of their showdown in Miami, Florida.

Ali made nine successful defences of his crown before he was stripped of it in 1967 after he refused to participate in the Vietnam War. He returned to the sport several years later however, going on to become heavyweight champion for the second time in that historic victory against George Foreman in 1974.

In an interview with Cathal O’Sannon, the boxing legend made a tirade of insults towards former rival Joe Frazier, who defeated ‘The Greatest’ in their 1971 bout in what was the first loss of Ali’s career.

“Joe Frazier’s ugly, he’s flat footed, he can’t talk, he can’t sing, he can’t fight and no personality.

He’s a slugger, a street fighter. He’s not skillful, Joe Frazier’s known for taking a lot of punches, he’s not like Floyd Patterson or say Sugar Ray Robinson or say Joe Louis or say Jack Johnson.”

Ali would go on to avenge his defeat to ‘Smokin Joe’ in their second and third fights in 1974 and 1975 respectively, putting an end to what was arguably one of boxing’s most iconic rivalries of all time.

Frazier lost on only four occasions during his impressive boxing career, also falling short on two occasions to Foreman.