Teddy Atlas Names The Only Heavyweight Greater Than Muhammad Ali: “He Deserves It”

Legendary trainer Teddy Atlas believes there is just one heavyweight that outshone Muhammad Ali.

Best known as ‘The Greatest’, Ali is often regarded as being the best fighter of all time, let alone just in the heavyweight division. His unquestionable boxing ability, charisma and personality meant that he stood out from the rest throughout his glittering career.

Perhaps the most iconic moment of Ali’s career was when he locked horns with ‘Big’ George Foreman in ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’ in 1974. Going into the bout with Foreman as a heavy underdog, Ali put on a tremendous display to wear the unbeaten champion down using his infamous ‘rope-a-dope’ style to stop him in the eighth round, becoming heavyweight champion once again.

In the opinion of one Atlas, one of boxing’s most respected trainers and analysts, there was a fighter who he believes was even greater than the man they call ‘The Greatest’.

Speaking on his YouTube channel THE FIGHT, Atlas praised Ali extensively before placing at number two and revealing it is Joe Louis who he considers to be the greatest heavyweight in the sport’s long history.

“It’s my list, he deserves it. The greatest finisher in the history of the heavyweight division. When this man hurts you, say goodnight, say goodbye, say see you later, nice knowing you, start the shower, get the smelling salts, whatever, it was over.

You don’t have to go to Websters Dictionary to see what annihilation is, just watch the one round of Joe Louis and Max Schmelling on the eve of World War 2.”

Louis ended his career in 1949, having made a record breaking 25 defences of his heavyweight title. His victories over Germany’s Max Schmelling and Jersey Joe Walcott remain two of the most iconic in boxing history.

His 12-year reign as world heavyweight champion, between 1937 and 1949, is still the longest of any fighter in the sport’s history, remaining in tact over 80-years later.