Muhammad Ali was one of the best boxers in history, perhaps the greatest of all time. Born in 1942 by the name Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., his beginning in boxing could not be more unusual. At age 12, in Louisville, Kentucky, he almost had his bike stolen by another man. Clay was found by police Joe E. Martin hitting the thief, and told the officer that was doing a “whup” the offender. Impressed with the young man, Joe Martin, who was chief of police and boxing coach, he told the boy to start practicing boxing.
#10. Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson – November 22, 1965
Patterson was the first two times world champion in heavyweight history and a gold medalist in the Olympics 1952. At the 12th round, the referee noting the extreme weariness of Patterson, stopped the fight, declaring Ali winner by TKO.
#9. Muhammad Ali vs Zora Folley – March 22, 1967
It was the last fight of Ali before being suspended and having his title taken away after refusing to leave for Vietnam. After a second knockdown, the referee started counting and Folley could not stand up. Knockout in the seventh round.
#8.Muhammad Ali vs. Karl Mildenberger – September 10, 1966
This was the first world heavyweight title bout ever held in Germany. Mildenberger was knocked down in rounds five, eight, and ten.
#7. Muhammad Ali vs. Jürgen Blin – December 26, 1971
At the fifth round, Blin started bleeding from two cuts under both eyes. A right hand in the seventh round dropped Blin.
#6. Muhammad Ali vs Jimmy Ellis – July 26, 1971
It was an even fight for the first three rounds, but Ali took control after hurting Ellis with a right hand in the fourth round. The referee stopped the fight at 2:10 of the 12th round.
#5. Muhammad Ali vs Oscar Bonavena. – December 7, 1970
Ali took a tough Argentine, with very strong hands, and he tried, at all costs, shorten the distance with Ali. What prevailed was the footwork, distance, control and accuracy of Ali. TKO in the 15th round.
#4. Muhammad Ali vs Chuck Wepner – March 24, 1975
Chuck Wepner, tirelessly chased Ali around the ring, even dropped him on canvas. However, at the 15th round, Ali ended the fight with a devastating straight punch knockout.
#3. Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II – May 25, 1965
This fight remains one of the most controversial in boxing history. Midway through the first round, Liston threw a left jab and Ali went over it with a fast right hand, knocking the former champion down. Ali initially stood over his fallen opponent, gesturing and yelling at him. Liston went down at 1:44, got up at 1:56, and Walcott stopped the fight at 2:12.
#2. Muhammad Ali vs Brian London – August 6, 1966
Ali backed London into a corner and unleashed a flurry of punches that put him down for the count.
#1. Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman – October 30, 1974
One of the most important fights in the history of world boxing. It was held in the old country of Zaire (Congo). In the eighth round, before a sequence of precise blows, it ends with a cross from the left and right. The referee counted to ten and waved the fight over.
