The legendary Joe Frazier once revealed the three heavyweights in boxing history that he believes are even greater than Muhammad Ali.
‘Smokin’ Joe’ shared the ring with Ali on three occasions throughout the course of his storied 16-year professional career which spanned between 1965 and 1981.
Frazier became the first man to defeat Ali when they locked horns for the first time back in 1971 to successfully defend his undisputed heavyweight championship for the first time.
He would fall short in their second and third encounters in 1974 and 1975 however, but would prove to be one of the toughest opponents that ‘The Greatest’ would ever share the ring with.
In a resurfaced quote, Frazier once spoke out and revealed the three heavyweights in the history of boxing that he believes rank even higher than his former rival, where he sensationally names himself in the trio.
“Joe Louis is the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. Rocky Marciano is second only to Louis. Where do I rate Ali? Somewhere below me. I beat him, and if I could beat him, no doubt Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano could have beaten him.”
Joe Louis, known more commonly as ‘The Brown Bomber’, is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of all time. His 12-year world title reign, which saw him make 25 successful defences of his crown, remains the longest reign of any world champion in boxing history.
As for Marciano, ‘The Brockton Blockbuster’ reigned as the world heavyweight champion for four years between 1952 and 1956, racking up victories over the likes of Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott and Joe Louis himself along the way. He drew the curtain on his professional career in April of 1956 with an unblemished record of 49-0 to his name.
