#1. Muhammad Ali - 56(37) 5

Nicknamed The Greatest Ali is certainly a fighter who can live up to that tag as he's not only regarded as the best Heavyweight ever by most he's also regarded as one of the top 5 greatest fighters from any weight. From 1964 when he beat the great Sonny Liston untill 1967 when he was banned after defeating Zora Folley he was simply untouchable, nobody could get a glove near him. In that time he defeated such fighters as George Chuvalo, Floyd Paterson Clevland Williams, Ernie Terrell and Brian London. After coming back in late 1970 he defeated Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena to set up a clash with 'Smokin' Joe Frazier who had captured the vacant title that Ali had been stripped off for avoiding the draft due to his religious views. Frazier won that first fight but it was evident Ali was not the same Ali who had left the sport in 1967, he'd slowed down a fraction and his reflexes were not what they once were. Frazier and Ali would go on to meet 2 more times with Ali coming out on top in both fights. All 3 fights are hailed among the greatest fights ever in the sports history. Ali's finest hour came in 1974 when he took on unbeaten heavyweight champion George Foreman who had just brutally despatched of two guys who had gave Ali hell and held legit wins over him in Frazier and Norton. Foreman was made a big favourite going into the fight with some experts even wondering if Ali would make out of the ring alive but Ali would go and prove them all wrong with one of the bravest and most gutsy performances ever seen inside a boxing ring. The first round saw Ali come out dancing like he said he was going to during the build up to the fight and he took the round through his right hand lead landing frequently. Nobody had threw a right hand lead against Foreman in 3 years some say and Ali came out and landed 5-6 in the first 3 minutes. After the first round to everyones surprise Ali stopped dancing and went to the ropes and started cover up, this in most ringsiders minds was suicide. Ayone who was going to stand still and let a man who quickly despatched of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton pound away at them was not going to last long. Ali covered up well though and would bait Foreman between flurrys with words and also blazzing fast combos, this went on round after round untill it came to the 8th round and with Foreman visibly tired Ali landed a brilliant right hand that stunned Foreman and he exploded off the ropes dropping his man for the count under a barage off lightning quick left and rights. Ali held the title untill 78 when he faced Olympic champion and pro novice Leon Spinks, Ali would go to the ropes again in this fight to wait on the opponent tire but that never happened to the younger Spinks who went on to take the crown with a split decision victory over the faded Legend. An instant rematch was signed and which Ali went on to win clearly although he showed few glimpses of what he could do in years gone by he still managed to take a clear decision by holding the centre of the ring and regaining the heavyweight title for a 3rd time becoming the first fighter to ever do this. Ali retired shortly after the Spinks fight but two years later made a shocking comeback against new Champion Larry Holmes. Holmes went on to batter Ali for 9 rounds before the bout was finally halted at the end of the round with the battered former champion making little protest. Ali attempted another comeback a year later taking on top contender Trevor Berbick but again he could do nothing with the yopunger stronger fighter. This was to be Ali's last fight, a fight that should never have taken place.

#2. Joe Louis - 66(52) 3


TBC