James Toney has played down the credentials of the man they call ‘The Greatest’: Muhammad Ali.
Ali is widely considered to be one of the best fighters to have ever graced the sport, certainly in the heavyweight division. He entered the professional ranks back in 1960 and very quickly established himself as a serious contender within amongst the big men.
The enigma from Louisville, Kentucy captured world honours for the first time in 1964 when he defeated the legendary Sonny Liston via sixth round stoppage. He defeated Liston in their rematch one year later and made a further eight defences of his crown before he was forced to take a three year hiatus from the sport after refusing the draft for the Vietnam War.
He would go on to capture the world heavyweight championship for the second time in 1974 when he defeated countryman George Foreman in one of boxing’s most iconic nights, ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’. Ali’s achievements inside and outside of the ropes mean he is held in the highest regard, though not by everyone.
Speaking on Wise Nuts Podcast, Hall of Famer James Toney the former three-time heavyweight champion ‘trash’ – though said he was great in the early stages of his career – before naming Sugar Ray Robinson as the best of all time.
“Ali ain’t the greatest fighter of all time, when he was Cassius Clay he was great, Ali is trash. The greatest fighter of all time is Sugar Ray Robinson, that guy was beautiful, he fought beautiful. Ali wanted to be him, that was his idol. Ali tried to fight like him but he couldn’t do it.”
Robinson is often regarded as being one of the greatest fighters ever, although many fans and analysts believe the six-time world champion is undoubtedly the best to ever do it.
He reigned as the world welterweight champion between 1946 and 1951 before he made the move up to middleweight where he would capture the world championship on five occasions within a 9-year period.
Robinson fought on no less than 201 times throughout the course of his storied 25-year professional career, which came to an end in 1965.
