Boxing greats never die

With the sad news that Smoking Joe Frazier had passed away this week I thought it would be fitting to do a blog on boxing greats as Smoking Joe was one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.  Firstly though to pay my respects to a true great both inside and outside the ring - RIP Smokin' Joe Frazier, you gave us some great memories. 

Ironic as this sounds boxing is one of the most disciplined sports around and the phrase blood, sweat and tears fits no sport better than boxing.  It is one of the most gruelling sports in terms of training and requires the up most courage, discipline bravery and a little showmanship making boxing so special and therefore the greats even greater. 

When you discuss boxing the first name that comes to mind is Muhammed Ali.  The man who called himself the greatest and to this day many would not disagree.  Ali had it all; speed, power, flair and a showmanship that is still unrivalled in the sport to this day. 

One of the most infamous pictures in sport not just boxing is the one above of Ali standing over Sonny Liston in their second fight.  Ali went on to have titanic tussles with George Foreman and Joe Frazier that to this day are still talked about as if they happened yesterday.  These are the notorious "Thrilla in Manilla" and "Rumble in the Jungle". 

These fights were so great because they involved all time greats.  Both Foreman and Frazier are legends in the Hall of Fame along with Ali.  The "Thrilla in Manila" is considered by many to be the greatest fight of all time and who can argue.  Both men gave everything and Ali admitted after that he was close to giving up before Fraziers trainer called it a day while he was on his stool.  Frazier was not impressed with the decision and this fight and his character to continue alone with basically one eye proved how much of a great he was. 

The "Rumble in the Jungle" is most famous for the "Rope a Dope" below which Ali performed to a tee. 

Boxing is full of era's and in these days this was a special era which will never be forgotten.  These fights will always be discussed and that is why despite Frazier's passing his name will always live on in the memory as will Ali, Foreman and other great heavyweights such as Liston, Holyfield, Tyson, Lewis and the Klitschko's today.

A fact that proves this is that when discussing the greatest boxer ever Ali doesn't actually pick himself but the first true great amongst most people: Sugar Ray Robinson.  He put boxing on the map with seamless displays of flair, speed, power and fast feet.  He was also a showman and to this day is considered the greatest ever boxer thanks to his infamous bouts with Jake LaMotta who is also a name that continues to be synonymous with the sport also. 

One of the greatest era's of the sport was the Fab Four era.  This included Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran.  Leonard has the best versus record amongst the four but all four boxers have been in boxing folklore for years and will continue to do so as they will be remembered even when they have passed.

Nowadays there are some boxing greats who are still fighting but will also be added to this list when they retire.  The most notable 2 being Manny Pacquaio and Floyd Mayweather.  Despite them not fighting one another yet to decide who is the best pound for pound fighter at the minute they will go down as 2 of the best boxers in history and will always be discussed with the other greats.  Other fighters such as Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Sergio Martinez and our own Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton will be the same but maybe to a lesser extent. 

Boxing is a sport full of personal opinions as to who is the greatest of all time.  Everyone will have justifiably reasons for the person they pick and because of the constant debating and the Hall of Fame where many of them end up boxing greats may pass on but they never truly die in the boxing or for that matter sporting world.