One of the best things about sports is the constant debates that go on at backyard barbecues, sports bars and local barber shops. The question is always the same: Who is the greatest of all-time? No matter the sport, you always get different opinions on who is the best ever. NBA discussions bring up Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James, while NFL talk turns to Jim Brown, Dick Butkus, Lawrence Taylor and Joe Montana.
But when it comes to boxing, there is only one name that comes up. When asked who the greatest boxer of all-time is, the answer is unanimous: The man, the myth, the legend, Muhammad Ali.
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When you think of the top 5 greatest boxing matches of all-time, Ali’s name always comes up. The “Thrilla in Manila” was the third and final matchup between Ali and Joe Frazier. Describing the fight, Ali once said, “That was the closest I ever felt to dying in the ring.”The Rumble in the Jungle” was a bout between heavyweight champion George Foreman and challenger Ali. Ali was a heavy underdog, and almost no one gave him a chance to win the fight. He incorporated a strategy that was later dubbed “rope-a-dope” and knocked out Foreman in the 8th round. Both of these fights were listed as fights of the century, according to Ringside Magazine.
Ali brought strategy, skill and art form to an otherwise brutal sport. He was so fast, so smart and had the toughest chin I have ever seen. Watching him box was the definition of poetry in motion. His career boxing record is an amazing 56-5.
Ali was an original rapper, using freestyle lyrics like, “I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick.” His most famous rap, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. You can’t hit, what your eyes don’t see” is recognized the world over. He was also a philosopher; some of his most famous musings include “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth” and my personal favorite, “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.”
As great as he was in the ring, Ali is also remembered for everything he did outside the squared circle. There has never been an athlete more loved or revered than the man who was formerly known as Cassius Clay. During his time in the 1960’s and 70’s, civil rights were a major issue in America. Unlike most athletes of today, who don’t speak out against controversial issues because they are afraid of their image or “brand” taking a hit, Ali spoke out as often as he could. He used his fame not only to better his life but to better those who were oppressed all over. Ali gave hope to the world.
Some people say one person can’t make a difference, but Ali proved everyone wrong. He not only influenced his city, his state, and his country but the rest of the world. Journalist Marc Lamont Hill Tweeted: “In 1967 Ali was an enemy of the state, in 1996 he carried the Olympic torch. The world changed, not him, that was a testament to his character.”
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Hero (Top) Feature Image: © The Associated Press
Additional Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
