Muhammad Ali in 1966

[butterfly1964]

One of the greatest single-season performances in boxing history, IMO. If you understand exactly what he had to do and the rigorous schedule he had to endure, you would agree. Ali fought 5 times in this year, and had to go into hostile territory every-single time.

First he fights George Chuvalo in March, and he fights it on Canadian soil, where everyone will be pulling for Chuvalo. Not only that, but Ali only had 17 days to train! Despite that, Ali comes in in decent shape and puts on a boxing clinic, losing only one or two rounds and winning at least twelve of the fifteen. Then in May, he has a rematch with Henry Cooper, who decked him three years ago. Again, he fights him on his native soild of Britain, where Muhammad's only cheering section are his seconds. He comes in fantastic shape and demontrates how excellent he is in rematches, by completely neutralizing Cooper's left hook and doing more on the inside. He then ends the fight in the sixth, by cuttting up and wobbling the challenger, prompting a stoppage. August 6, and he's back in the ring against Brian London. Again, he only has about three weeks to train, and his opponent has home field advantage, but he still manages to destroy his challenger with relative ease. Six weeks later and it's off to Germany to face 3rd ranked Karl Mildenberger. Ali whips himself into phenominal shape, and has to find it in him to overcome a crowd booing against him. He also was brave enough to take on a southpaw, as many other champions in the past never wanted anypart of southpaws, as they are hard to fight because of their awkwardness. However, Ali still comes throught in the clutch. Then he comes back to the U.S. and fights Houston's Cleveland Willams, in Houston, Texas. In this last fight of the year, Ali puts on possibly the greatest performance by a pugilist of all-time, All the while hearing a crowd of boos.

For Ali to schedule fights at that pace and to travel to different countries fighting in hostile territory, each and every single time is remarkable to say the least. Five title fights in one year is an amazing feat. Truly 1966 was the year of Muhammad Ali!

[sterling]

it proberly was

[LondonRingRules]

One of the greatest single-season performances in boxing history, IMO.

** Can you post of pic of you in pompoms?

Cooper, London, Mildenberger, and well done Williams aren't going to strike fear in champions. London was especially a joke, but Ali did travel and do what he could.

Chuvalo was a good victory, but Chuvalo rocked Ali plenty and made him work past his comfort level.

In his first year of contesting title fights as a 20 yr old, Tyson made a highlight reel of Berbick, turned Bonecrusher into Bonesucker, demolished Thomas, outworked and outslicked Tucker, and caught up to Ali clone Biggs and put him to rest with a nightmare combination, all big strong monsters compared to Ali's comp.

In 1935 as a 21-22 yr old, Joe Louis KOed former champ mankiller dreadnaught Carnera, Levinsky, former champ mankiller Baer, and Paulino Uzcadan, and that was after he had already KOed 8 of 10 mostly fringe contender types that year.

In 1939, Armstrong defends his title 4x in a 17 day span with 3 KOs and one UD plus a non title KO a few days earlier.

Don't make me go on with Langford, Greb, Pep, ad naseum.

Would like to have them pics for my collection though!

[Lubutheimmortal]

Each fighters year you just posted is more then impressive. Idk who I'd over the other but the Louis year get my nod as the most impressive. The Ali year of 66 was a good year for him.

[Franko]

One of the greatest single-season performances in boxing history, IMO. If you understand exactly what he had to do and the rigorous schedule he had to endure, you would agree. Ali fought 5 times in this year, and had to go into hostile territory every-single time.

First he fights George Chuvalo in March, and he fights it on Canadian soil, where everyone will be pulling for Chuvalo. Not only that, but Ali only had 17 days to train! Despite that, Ali comes in in decent shape and puts on a boxing clinic, losing only one or two rounds and winning at least twelve of the fifteen. Then in May, he has a rematch with Henry Cooper, who decked him three years ago. Again, he fights him on his native soild of Britain, where Muhammad's only cheering section are his seconds. He comes in fantastic shape and demontrates how excellent he is in rematches, by completely neutralizing Cooper's left hook and doing more on the inside. He then ends the fight in the sixth, by cuttting up and wobbling the challenger, prompting a stoppage. August 6, and he's back in the ring against Brian London. Again, he only has about three weeks to train, and his opponent has home field advantage, but he still manages to destroy his challenger with relative ease. Six weeks later and it's off to Germany to face 3rd ranked Karl Mildenberger. Ali whips himself into phenominal shape, and has to find it in him to overcome a crowd booing against him. He also was brave enough to take on a southpaw, as many other champions in the past never wanted anypart of southpaws, as they are hard to fight because of their awkwardness. However, Ali still comes throught in the clutch. Then he comes back to the U.S. and fights Houston's Cleveland Willams, in Houston, Texas. In this last fight of the year, Ali puts on possibly the greatest performance by a pugilist of all-time, All the while hearing a crowd of boos.

For Ali to schedule fights at that pace and to travel to different countries fighting in hostile territory, each and every single time is remarkable to say the least. Five title fights in one year is an amazing feat. Truly 1966 was the year of Muhammad Ali!

Great post. Every great fighter leaves an impression, but i understand why you have used the territorial advantage angle. In theory it shouldn't matter were a fight is held, but in some cases it does. To use an obvious example, one of my favourite fighters went over to England to face Nigel Benn, and no-one gave Benn a chance. The majority of the audience were unbelievable in their support of Benn and this can have an effect. IMO Benn wouldn't have went over to the States and performed as he did against McClellan in England, and that may sound silly as Nigel Benn went over to the States to beat Doug De Witt and Iran Barkley, but McClellan was a different kettle of fish IMO.
I'm a big fan of Sonny Liston, and i think it was 1959 when he beat Besmanoff, Valdes, Cleveland Williams, and DeJohn... That was a great year for Liston... amongst others of course.

[butterfly1964]

** Can you post of pic of you in pompoms?

Cooper, London, Mildenberger, and well done Williams aren't going to strike fear in champions. London was especially a joke, but Ali did travel and do what he could.

Chuvalo was a good victory, but Chuvalo rocked Ali plenty and made him work past his comfort level.

In his first year of contesting title fights as a 20 yr old, Tyson made a highlight reel of Berbick, turned Bonecrusher into Bonesucker, demolished Thomas, outworked and outslicked Tucker, and caught up to Ali clone Biggs and put him to rest with a nightmare combination, all big strong monsters compared to Ali's comp.

In 1935 as a 21-22 yr old, Joe Louis KOed former champ mankiller dreadnaught Carnera, Levinsky, former champ mankiller Baer, and Paulino Uzcadan, and that was after he had already KOed 8 of 10 mostly fringe contender types that year.

In 1939, Armstrong defends his title 4x in a 17 day span with 3 KOs and one UD plus a non title KO a few days earlier.

Don't make me go on with Langford, Greb, Pep, ad naseum.

Would like to have them pics for my collection though!

Calm down, I didn't say Ali in '66 was the greatest year, I said "one of the greatest." Furthermore, like I said, Ali had to go into hostile territory for title fights. The crowd wasn't cheering for him as they were for Tyson, Louis, and Armstrong. Also bear in mind that they were all title fights, 5 of them. Louis wasn't fighting title fights, and tyson only had 4, plus a lackluster performance against Tucker.

[LondonRingRules]

Calm down, I didn't say Ali in '66 was the greatest year, I said "one of the greatest." Furthermore, like I said, Ali had to go into hostile territory for title fights. The crowd wasn't cheering for him as they were for Tyson, Louis, and Armstrong. Also bear in mind that they were all title fights, 5 of them. Louis wasn't fighting title fights, and tyson only had 4, plus a lackluster performance against Tucker.

** Ali was quite popular in Britain and Europe in general. It's impressive that he traveled but the comp was weak save Chuvalo where Ali was also popular.

Tyson dominated the Tucker scoring and that was a title fight.

I was more impressed with Ali's schedule during the early part of his comeback. 3 yrs off and then goes against top fighters Quarry, Bonavena, and then Frazier in less than 5 months.

In 72 he beats Chuvalo, Foster, Quarry, Lewis, Patterson and Foster, traveling to Japan, BC, and Ireland for 3 of them and beats all 6 convincingly with no controversy. Much tougher opposition especially considering how dispirited he felt after losing his title.

[Brassangel]

This "Giant" fellow sounds an aweful lot like buttefly1964: Sonny Liston as the #2 greatest heavyweight ever, 1966 Ali was the greatest ever, etc.

Muhammad Ali had perhaps reached his peak in 1966 and was unfortunately taken from us at that time. I still feel as though his comeback year was more impressive, more grueling, and more hostile. 15 rounds against an awkward southpaw like Bonavena after 3 years off and only a couple of rounds of in-ring practice with Quarry? Then fighting Joe Frazier?!?! That's pretty tough, and the competition is definitely stiffer than in the 1966 example where he was at his best anyway.

This is still a good thread.

[Lubutheimmortal]

This "Giant" fellow sounds an aweful lot like buttefly1964: Sonny Liston as the #2 greatest heavyweight ever, 1966 Ali was the greatest ever, etc.

Muhammad Ali had perhaps reached his peak in 1966 and was unfortunately taken from us at that time. I still feel as though his comeback year was more impressive, more grueling, and more hostile. 15 rounds against an awkward southpaw like Bonavena after 3 years off and only a couple of rounds of in-ring practice with Quarry? Then fighting Joe Frazier?!?! That's pretty tough, and the competition is definitely stiffer than in the 1966 example where he was at his best anyway.

This is still a good thread.

It is butterfly,....go check out the Robero Duran thread in history.

[Brassangel]

Yeah, that's why I left the .

It's still a compelling statement, nonetheless. We should break down the "best" year for each great champion.