Of All Times
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
I grew up in the post Ali era of boxing. For years I knew only his name, spoken in reverent tones by Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, and sports commentators. At some point I finally saw a replay of Ali vs. Frazier III. Finally, I too, was in awe.
As a kid, I had no idea that the third fight featured the older, slower, Ali against an older and slower Joe Frazier.
It didn’t matter.
The fight was great for more than simple athleticism, just as Ali is ‘The Greatest’ because the sum of his life is greater than the myriad parts. The “Thrilla in Manila” was a battle of wills more than skill. Two mythical titan’s battling for “the championship of each other” [paraphrased from Jerry Izenberg, as told to Thomas Hauser].
…Ali is ‘The Greatest’ because the sum of his life is greater than the myriad parts.
Ali often made controversial statements. Not only did he have bold social and political views, but he pulled out all the stops in verbally harassing his opponents to gain a psychological edge. His significance as a world famous black celebrity, with limitless media coverage, shouting to the world “I am beautiful” cannot be overlooked. Ali should be universally recognized as one of the most prominent voices of a “Black is beautiful” message.
Ali was a man, with flaws like any other. His racist comments regarding Joe Frazier are still cringe-inducing today. But he was also a powerful advocate for many underrepresented groups from blacks to Muslims to disabled persons.
He used his platform as the most visible athlete in sports to deliver pro-black messages to the world.
He refused to be drafted into Vietnam on the grounds of his religious beliefs and became an icon of the anti-war movement.
After he fell ill with Parkinsons he used his celebrity to raise awareness of the disease as well as other disabilities.
After the World Trade Center attacks Ali, a Muslim, denounced the terrorists and spoke out against Islamophobia.
Whether you agreed with Ali’s positions or not, he had the power to be heard and force conversations that may have otherwise gone unheeded.
Of The World
Ali was chosen not created. Many of the most popular people and trends on the planet are the product of corporate marketing schemes. Ali fought his way to an Olympic Gold Medal and a Heavyweight Championship. Ali was democratically elected to be the biggest celebrity athlete of his time, by people who voted with their feet and their wallets.
At a time when minorities were nearly invisible in popular media and misrepresented whenever they could be found, Ali’s personality rose above all else. He was good looking, quick-witted, and spoke with infinite self-confidence. Whether you loved him, or loved to hate him, his influence was undeniable.
“Of All Times”
As a fighter and athlete he was truly great, taking on every challenger he could get in the ring [1], and defeating most of them at least once. He was the best of two eras in Heavyweight boxing (the 1960s and 1970s), having edged his rival Joe Frazier over the course of their three contests. In the context of boxing, Ali and Frazier should never be mentioned without each other.
There is a difference in my mind between being the best and being the greatest. Ali was the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Could he soundly beat every other heavyweight in the ring? While some heavyweights across the ages could have troubled Ali in the ring with their skills [2], few athletes dominate their realm for 20 years, taking on all comers.
Joe Louis comes close with his reign between 1937 and 1950. Jack Johnson deserves special acknowledgement for battling to become the first black Heavyweight Champion. But no one dominated an era so strong as Ali’s. Liston, Patterson, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Lyle,… This is just a small selection of the murderers row Ali faced and defeated.
The sport of boxing in the 21st century should aspire to Ali’s willingness to test himself, if not his theatrical charisma.
Ali was boxing. The sport still exists in his shadow. His contribution to the boxing tapestry is so large that it still routinely pulls our eyes away from the present.
Ali represents a classic version of the American dream. A black person who reached 18 years of age before the Civil Rights Movement and managed to rise from poverty to become one of the richest and most beloved athletes “of all times”.
Further Education on Ali:
- I highly recommend the documentary “Facing Ali” for a 360 degree view of the man as told by his opponents.
- “Joe Frazier: When The Smoke Clears” is a must watch as the other side of the Ali legend.
- Ali’s boxing career is nicely encapsulated in the “ESPN Ringside Ali” 4-disc DVD set.
- George Foreman shares his memories of the late Joe Frazier with ESPN’s Dan Rafael.
Talk back to the author:
Twitter: @Cazzbot
Footnotes:
- A list of the fights Ali avoided.
- Ali was ‘The Greatest’, but he wasn’t the best in terms of boxing skill.
