All-time boxing greats: Top 5 best male boxers in history

5. Muhammad Ali (56-5, 37 KOs)

Muhammad Ali earned his nickname “The Greatest” by beating some of the best boxers of his time.

Yes, Ali knew how to talk and build up hype, but he lived up to the hype. In his early years, known by his birth name Cassius Clay, Ali had a knack for predicting which round he would knock out his opponents.

He also had a fantastic amateur pedigree, having won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome as a light heavyweight. He turned professional that same year.

Ali was a massive underdog going into his first title fight with the champion Sonny Liston. The skinny heavyweight used his speed to batter Liston for six rounds before Liston quit on his stool, citing a shoulder injury. Ali stopped Liston in round 1 of their 1965 rematch.

During his 21-year professional career, Ali beat Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Ken Norton. He won the heavyweight title on three separate occasions and ruled during arguably the best heavyweight era in history.

Ali was dynamic outside of the ring as well and was an agent for social change and became a rebel and a political figure. Still, his combination of elite footwork, hand speed, and power make him the best heavyweight of all time.

Ali doesn’t get enough credit for his power. He finished his career with a 60 percent KO rating. In his trainer Angelo Dundee’s autobiography, Dundee reveals that Ali’s power was held back due to chronic hand problems. He claims that Ali had to keep his power in check for fear of causing a break. There were times when Ali could barely make a fist during his fights. Ali proved to have the will to overcome almost anything in the ring.