Canelo Álvarez Names Muhammad Ali as the Greatest Boxer of All Time
Canelo Álvarez, the Mexican superstar and current undisputed super-middleweight champion, has revealed his pick for the greatest boxer in history: Muhammad Ali. Despite a recent loss to Terence Crawford, Álvarez remains a dominant force in the boxing world, with a career spanning multiple weight divisions and victories over notable opponents like Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, Miguel Cotto, and Shane Mosley.
Ali’s Legacy
Álvarez’s admiration for Ali stems from the heavyweight icon’s unparalleled impact on and outside the ring. Ali’s boxing journey began with a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He turned professional and quickly rose to prominence, winning the world heavyweight championship in his 20th bout against Sonny Liston.
Ali participated in some of the most iconic fights in boxing history, including “The Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman and “The Thrilla in Manila” against Joe Frazier. Crawford recently defeated Álvarez, adding another chapter to the ongoing discussion of boxing’s greatest fighters.
A Three-Time World Champion
Throughout his career, Ali became a three-time world champion, amassing a record of 56 wins in 61 fights. His skill, charisma, and social activism cemented his status as a cultural icon. In a recent interview with GQ, Álvarez unequivocally stated his belief that Ali is “The best in the world, of all time.”
Golovkin’s Perspective on Canelo’s Opponents
Gennady Golovkin, a former opponent of Canelo Álvarez, has also weighed in on the power of fighters Canelo has faced. Golovkin downplayed Canelo’s punching power, noting that even his strongest shots “brought no result” during their three encounters.
Crawford’s Weight Gain Concerns
Ahead of Canelo’s upcoming fight against Terence Crawford, concerns have been raised about Crawford’s weight. Gennady Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sánchez, warned Crawford about the challenges of moving up two weight divisions in a short period, suggesting it could hinder his performance against Canelo.