Boxing is by many the ultimate contact sport. It’s simple, it seems like it existed forever, and it is one of those sports that seem to create true legends. The stories behind the greatest boxing legends usually are an inspiration for anybody who had to struggle to get somewhere in life. The great knock outs and the great fights that gather huge crowds are some of the greatest moments in the history of sport. Boxing is one of the most intense and spectacular sports because everything depends on one well placed punch, so everybody gives all they can. Boxing matches are an incredible feat of resistance, even the winner, being just barely able to stand on his feet, after a close fought twelve-round fight. So here are who I consider being the greatest boxing legends:

1.        Muhammad Ali: Born with the name Cassius Clay, the former world heavyweight champion is best known for his adopted name of Muhammad Ali, after he converted to The Nation of Islam. Muhammad Ali is best known for his unorthodox way of fighting, and for his charisma, and “trash talk”, making televised remarks in the days prior to a game about his opponents, often in rime. He won the heavyweight title at the age of 22, being the youngest ever to do so at that time, after a win in 6 rounds against the title holder Sonny Liston. The fight was dramatic, Muhammad loosing his vision in the 3^rd round, many say do to a substance that Liston’s crew had put on his glows. Ali recovered by the end of the 4^th round and began to dominate the rest of the fight with furious blows. Liston failed to answer the bell at the beginning of the 7^th round and Ali became champ. Before his rematch Cassius converted to the Nation of Islam, under the influence of charismatic Islam leader Malcolm X, and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He managed to retain his title several times, but was eventually deposed by a ruling of a US court of justice when he refused to enlist for the draft because of his political beliefs. He said he was a conscientious objector, saying that he will not fight in the Vietnam War. As a result he lost his boxing license, and would not box for four years, only after the US Supreme Court reversed the decision. After this he went on to fight against Joe Frazier, the undefeated heavyweight champion, in what was called “the Fight of the Century”. Ali lost after 15 rounds, in one of the greatest fights in history. He than lost again against Ken Norton, but won the rematch. This set up another Frazier-Ali fight, in which Ali won. After this win he would go on to fight the title holder who had defeated Frazier, George Foreman. The fight was heeled in Zaire, and against all expectations Ali won, surprising the champion, who had one almost all of his fights in less than two rounds, with his stamina. Ali took the blows until Foreman got tired, by the end of the seventh round. In the eight, Ali and unleashed his punches, and floored Foreman, who couldn’t make the count, and thus became for the second time the World heavyweight champion of the World. Ali would hold his title until 1978, when he was defeated by Leon Spikes, but managed to win back the WBA version, later that year, for an unprecedented third time. He than retired, but came back after two yeas, suffering three defeats, before retiring for good. This made his total of 56 wins and 5 loses in his professional carrier. He is considered to be the greatest boxing legend of all time.

2.        George Foreman: One of the greatest boxing legends of all time, holding the record for the longest distance between regaining the world heavyweight title, 20 years. He won his first title in 1973, after beating Joe Frazier in a quick knock-out. He would lose his title to Muhammad Ali and after a near death experience after his lost fight with Jimmy Young, in 1977. This experience would make him become a devout Christian, and he went on to retire from boxing, and get ordained as a minister. In 1987, he decided to make a comeback and, after a string of victories he challenged Holyfield for the title in 1991. He lost the bout, but in 1994 he got another chance to fight for the title against Michael Moorer, winning thru KO, at the age of 45. This feat makes him one of the greatest boxing legends of all time.

These two boxers sum up for me what true greatest boxing legends should symbolize: the determination, the persistence towards reaching a goal, the will to go on against all odds. I believe that these two boxers should be a role model for every child who is thinking of becoming a professional fighter. 

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