The Greatest means the Best. It's a fact however that Ali wasn't the greatest when it comes to skills in boxing. It was Ali's speed that made him the greatest. Without his speed he would've lost many fights, because in the 60's his defense wasn't developed enough. Ali laid all his trust in his speed, which rescued him from making some mistakes in style and skills(Joe Louis said so in his biography and Larry Holmes said the same years later). I think the greatest Heavyweight only measured by skills and technique was Ezzard Charles. Charles was like the complete fighter, he was great in every skill: Speed, Headmovement, Punching Power, Footwork, Chin, ecc. Charles problem when he fought Rocky Marciano was that he wasn't a smart fighter as Gene Tunney, so he stood right in front of Marciano. That said however doesn't mean that Ali wouldn't have beaten Charles, but Ezzard is the best for me, measured by skills(and you have to consider that he fought at a time when heavyweights had almost no footwork at all).

Ali was the greatest Heavyweight. Overall Boxers I would take a Welterweight Robinson, or a Lightweight Duran.

Ali called himself "The Greatest" it wasn't imposed ON HIM..............Many,especially as fans look back see him fighting guys like and old and shot up CLEVELAND WILLIAMS. LOUIS who held the title for nearly 12 years and defended it 25 times is the best. I assumed hearing Muhammad Ali, we were talking heavyweights SRR and Willie Pep were the best pure boxers.

If you are asking who was the greatest boxer it was Sugar Ray Robinson, even Ali said that Ray was the greatest boxer of all time.

Ali only called himself that to promote his fights, he figured out people would pay to see him lose, so he talked a lot to get a big crowd.

He was not always like that.

What?! If Ali was the greatest, then he's the best, also.

Did you mean to ask "who was the second best"? Did you omit a word?

Second best = Joe Louis - "the Brown Bomber"

Ali is the greatest boxer ever for his feats and contributions that transcended boxing and sport in general.

But speaking solely of boxing, Willie Pep was the best given his longevity and what he had accomplished in the sport with the kind of physique and punching power he had.

Joe Louis

I think the greatest is srr and ali is the best.

Floyd Mayweather



TBE- The Best Ever.

The Eastern Assassin!

Me~