10 greatest boxers of all time

#9 Muhammed Ali

Heavyweight

Career: 1960-81 Record: 56-5 (37 KOs)

Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942, Muhammed Ali is true a icon and legend in every sense of the word. As an amateur, Ali won over 100 fights including a gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. He went 19-0 as a professional fighter and developed his own unique style outside the ring of belittling his opponents and lauding his own skills.

George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, Ken Norton, Jimmy Ellis and Leon Spinks all lost to Ali. He was the heavyweight champion of the world between 1964 and 1967, 1974-78, and 1978-79. At the time, he was the only heavyweight to have won the world title three times.

Flamboyant, and full of braggadocio after he won Olympic gold in Rome in 1960, he was to dub himself 'The Greatest' as a professional fighter, changing society and in many people's eyes, living up to the name he crowned himself with. He was outspoken, exciting and an undefeated boxing champion in his time and was also the best entertainer in the boxing world.

He had a record of total 56 wins out which 37 were knockout wins. He had only 5 losses in career and there is a case to suggest that had Ali not been forced to give up boxing in his prime for three years because of refusing induction into the armed forces during the Vietnam War then maybe he would have never lost.

He transcended the sport unlike any other boxer, reinvented the way heavyweights were supposed to fight, deploying a speed and athleticism that was previously unheard of; also alternately bedazzled and appalled America and the world with charisma. Ali probably had the best chin and heart in the game & his Name will always remain synonymous with the sport of Boxing.

Memorable bout: On October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali destroyed Joe Frazier in what was dubbed the “Thrilla in Manila.” One of the all-time best fights in boxing history, both Frazier and Ali showed great courage and perseverance.