Evander Holyfield also measured himself against Ali’s legacy. “To be like Ali, I had to be the best,” he said, referring to his own success. Even then he made it clear where Ali stood. “Ali was the best.”
Ali himself was open about the opponents that bothered him the most.
George Foreman stood out because of his strength. Ali called him a “monster” going into their fight in Africa and admitted to his corner that if he gets knocked down, he might not get up.
Sonny Liston brought a different kind of fear. Ali, then still Cassius Clay, used tough talk before the fight to mask it. He later admitted he had nightmares before facing Liston.
Joe Frazier pushed him harder than anyone. “Fighting Joe was like fighting a machine,” Ali said. After the Thrilla in Manila, he told his corner that it was the closest he came to death.
Ken Norton gave him three tough fights, including a broken jaw in their first meeting. “Fighting Norton took years out of my career,” Ali said.
Larry Holmes was the one he didn’t want to face. Holmes had been his sparring partner and knew his style. “I taught him how to fight,” Ali said. “Now he’s going to destroy me.” By the time they fought, Ali was past his prime, and Holmes was struggling with what he was doing in the ring.
Ali later admitted he was not the same fighter. “I was old,” he said, knowing the result would show it.
The respect between fighters went both ways. Even in defeat, Ali’s opponents often spoke of him in a different tone than anyone else they faced.
