Had he not passed away eight and a half years ago, worn out by a long illness but surrounded by the love of his family, the incomparable Muhammad Ali would have turned 83 today. “The Greatest,” who is remembered not only as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time but also as a global icon, transcended the boundaries of boxing to inspire countless men and women around the world. It is impossible to capture all the countless moments of brilliance that defined the life of the Louisville pugilist in a single article. In this commemorative piece, we will focus on the most significant rivalries that marked Ali’s career inside the ropes, revisiting some of his most iconic bouts.
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston
The first major “enemy” of the man who was still known as Cassius Clay during his early professional days was the terrifying puncher from Arkansas. Having finally become world champion after a long wait, Liston had the reputation of being an unbeatable destroyer and remains one of the most powerful heavyweights in boxing history. Unfortunately, both bouts between the graceful young challenger and the experienced, brutal champion were marred by controversy. The first fight ended with Liston retiring due to a claimed shoulder injury at the end of the sixth round. After an initial phase of difficulty, Ali had taken control, dazzling with his extraordinary speed and inflicting visible damage on his opponent’s face. However, Liston’s premature surrender raised many doubts among spectators.
The rematch was even more shrouded in mystery, decided by the famous “phantom punch” from Ali, which most observers believed could not have been strong enough to knock out someone as tough as Liston. The latter’s alleged connections to the criminal underworld have led some to speculate that both fights were deliberately thrown—a theory that has never been conclusively proven.
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier
On one side was a former champion stripped of his title for refusing to join the U.S. military in the Vietnam War. On the other was the new champion, who had risen to the top after clearing out the competition during his predecessor’s enforced absence. The titanic clash between Ali and Frazier was this and so much more: first rivals, then friends, then fierce adversaries once again, the two legends produced three historic bouts.
The first fight belonged to Smokin’ Joe: a slightly rusty Ali, returning after a long hiatus, couldn’t contain the relentless fury of a man on a mission. The rematch told a different story, with The Greatest relying on his mobility and frequent clinches to nullify the heated exchanges and outpoint a Frazier who, while as tenacious as ever, lacked the same fire that fueled his first victory.
The final chapter of their rivalry may have been less technical than the previous fights but was even more brutal and gripping, with both fighters already on the decline but willing to give everything to outdo the other. In the end, the difference came down to mere seconds: Joe Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, stopped the fight after 14 rounds of hell, just moments before Angelo Dundee was prepared to do the same in Ali’s corner. Fate decreed that Ali would be the winner of this legendary trilogy.
Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton
When Muhammad Ali stepped into the ring for the first time against Ken Norton, wearing a robe gifted to him by the legendary Elvis Presley, he likely believed he could secure an easy victory. Instead, Norton turned out to be one of his toughest opponents, and the bitter experience that night at the San Diego Sports Arena led The Greatest to never wear the rock icon’s gift again. Norton’s ability to cut off the ring, his relentless body work, and his masterful use of the jab moving forward proved to be lethal weapons against the elusive style of the Louisville champion, who left the ring defeated and nursing a broken jaw.
Approaching the rematch with a vastly improved focus and athletic condition—evident in his four-kilogram weight loss—Ali still had to fight tooth and nail the second time. He managed to claim a well-deserved victory thanks to a monumental final round fought at a blistering pace.
The third bout between the two fighters took place three years later, with a significantly slower and less sharp Ali, no longer in his prime, narrowly escaping with a generous decision from the judges. Norton seemed to have done enough to win.
Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman
No recounting of Ali’s rivalries would be complete without the most epic battle of them all: the night in Kinshasa when he rose above every other heavyweight in history. It was October 30, 1974, when Ali, stepping into the ring as the challenger, began to dance in place in his characteristic style, awaiting the terrifying George Foreman. Foreman had already demolished several world-class fighters like they were nothing.
Big George’s devastating victories over Joe Frazier and Ken Norton—fighters who had previously given Ali a run for his money—led many experts to predict certain defeat for the charismatic challenger. Ali, of course, would prove them all wrong, famously warning everyone afterward never to make him the underdog until he was 50 years old. He could make such a claim because he had just produced the greatest masterpiece of his sporting career, absorbing the champion’s punishing blows, exhausting him, and sealing the victory at the perfect moment with a right hand.
The best answer to those who still raise questions about the external factors surrounding that fight came years later from Foreman himself: “After the fight, for a while I was bitter. I had all sorts of excuses. The ring ropes were loose. The referee counted too fast. The cut hurt my training. I was drugged. I should have just said the best man won, but I’d never lost before so I didn’t know how to lose.“
The story of Muhammad Ali, of course, is much larger than what we have summarized in these few paragraphs. It includes countless other anecdotes and memorable episodes, many related to boxing and many others to his life outside the ring. Today, we chose to focus on his historic rivalries. In the future, if you continue to read our content as avidly as you do now, we’ll bring you more stories about the late, great Louisville athlete.