That’s a tough question to answer, because there are so many factors to consider, such as era, competition, style, skills, achievements, etc. And of course, everyone has their own opinion and bias.
So I’m not gonna say that he was the greatest or that he wasn’t. I’m just gonna give you some facts and let you decide for yourself.
Fact #1: Muhammad Ali won the world heavyweight championship three times, which is a record that no one else has matched.
He also defended his title 19 times, which is impressive. He fought some of the best fighters in history, such as Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, etc.
Fact #2: Muhammad Ali was stripped of his title and banned from boxing for three years because he refused to join the army during the Vietnam War.
He said that he was a conscientious objector and that he had no quarrel with the Vietnamese people. He sacrificed his prime years and millions of dollars for his principles.
Fact #3: Muhammad Ali had a unique style and personality that made him stand out from the crowd.
He was fast, agile, graceful and unpredictable in the ring. He used his jab, footwork, head movement and trash talk to confuse and frustrate his opponents.
He also had a charisma and charm that attracted fans and media attention.
Fact #4: Muhammad Ali suffered from Parkinson’s syndrome, which some people say was caused by his boxing career. He took a lot of punishment in the ring, especially in his later fights.
He also came back from retirement twice, which may have worsened his condition. He died in 2016 at the age of 74.