Top 10 boxing heavyweight greats of all-time

(Original Caption) Louis wins by technical knockout in eighth round. New York City: As Champion Joe Louis blocks with his shoulders, Challenger Arturo Godoy misses a right to his face during their title fight in the Yankee Stadium, June 20th. Louis won by a technical knockout in the eighth round. /

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March 8, 1971 – New York: (L-R) Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden. Frazier won the heavyweight title in fifteen rounds. (Photo by John Shearer/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) /

9. Joe Frazier (32-4-1, 27 KOs)

Joe Frazier is widely known as Muhammad Ali’s most famous antagonist, but his legacy is rich with dazzling accomplishments. Like Ali, Frazier won Olympic gold in 1964. He was short for a heavyweight at the time at 5-foot-11, but he’s one of the best body punchers of all time.

He turned professional in 1965 and climbed the ranks quickly. Ali was stripped of the heavyweight title in 1967 for refusing induction into the army, so the heavyweight division was wide open for an emerging star. Frazier filled that void.

He stopped Buster Mathis in 1968 to earn part of the heavyweight title. He defeated Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry before fighting Jimmy Ellis in 1970. Frazier knocked Ellis down twice in the fourth, and trainer Angelo Dundee wouldn’t allow Ellis to sustain further punishment. Frazier was recognized as the full heavyweight champion.

Ali returned to boxing in 1970 and challenged Frazier in 1971. Ali and Frazier became famous enemies as the two traded harsh words in the build-up to the fight. Frazier outworked Ali and knocked him down in the 15th round. Frazier’s defeat of Ali is impressive but also occurred after Ali had been out of the ring for three years without facing a serious challenge.

Frazier would fight Ali two more times and would lose by decision, but the final fight, known as “The Thrilla in Manila,” is one of boxing’s most significant battles.

He’s lower on the list because George Foreman destroyed him in their 1973 meeting. Foreman knocked Frazier down six times in two rounds. The bout was stopped in the second. He was knocked out by Foreman again in 1976, this time in the fifth round.

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