The only fighter to hand Muhammad Ali a knockout defeat has sensationally claimed that he is actually the greatest heavyweight in boxing history.
Throughout the course of his outstanding 21-year professional career, Ali proved time and time again exactly why he is widely considered to be the greatest fighter of all time.
The Kentucky-native exploded onto the scene after his success at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome which he walked away from with a Light-Heavyweight Gold Medal.
Ali would go on to become the world heavyweight champion on three occasions, producing a number of legacy-defining victories over the likes of Ken Norton, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman to name just a few.
‘The Greatest’ did suffer a number of unfortunate defeats during the back end of his tenure, including a loss to countryman Larry Holmes, who became the first man to stop Ali when they clashed for the WBC heavyweight title in October of 1980.
Speaking to Sky Sports Boxing, Holmes played down the credentials of former rival Ali before claiming that he should actually be regarded as the greatest heavyweight ever.
“Ali don’t have the fight record that I have with defending the title, he didn’t hold his title for seven and a half years. Why can’t I fit in that box, why does Muhammad Ali have to be the greatest, he can say he’s the greatest, you can say he’s the greatest, but I know different, I’m the greatest.”
Holmes’ reign as the world heavyweight champion began in June 1978 when he defeated Ken Norton via split decision at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. ‘The Easton Assassin’ would go on to make no less than 20 successful defences of his crown in a 7-year period before he was eventually dethroned by Michael Spinks in September of 1985.
