The 5 boxers who defeated Muhammad Ali

Muhamad Ali is considered by many as the best boxer in history, his career in the ring lasted 21 years and his record was 61 fights, of which he won 56, 37 by knockout and lost 5, of those only 1 by KOT at the end of his career.

These were the 5 boxers who defeated Muhamad Ali

Ali lost his undefeated against Joe Frazier, in his 30th fight, an undefeated of 26 fights, on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York (USA), by points after 15 rounds.

Ali was knocked down in the 14th round, surviving in the 15th and last round as best he could, and the judges determined the following verdict; Arthur Mecante who was the judge/referee of the fight awarded 8 rounds to Frazier and 6 to Ali, while judges Artie Airala, 9 to 6 and Bill Recht, 11 to 4, all for Frazier.

In this fight, Frazier retained the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) world heavyweight titles.

Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, fought again in 2 more opportunities; on January 28, 1974 in the same scenario (MSG, New York), Ali won by points and on October 1, 1975, in the "Araneta Coliseum" of Barangay Cubao, Quezon City (Philippines) in one of the most terrible and bloody fights in history, which was called "The war of Manila", with Ali's victory by KOT in the 14th round.

Ali's second defeat took place on March 31, 1973, at the "Sport Arena" in San Diego, California (USA), by points against Ken Norton, for the NABF heavyweight title. Norton came up to fight with 29 fights won and only 1 loss.

Ken Norton and Muhammad Ali met again in the ring two more times; on September 10, 1973 (six months after the first fight). 973 (six months after the first fight), for the same NABF title, at the "Forum" in Inglewood, Los Angeles, with Ali winning by points in a very controversial decision, as referee/judge Dick Young saw Ali win 7 rounds to 5, the same as judge George Laika who gave 6/5, while the other judge, Jhon Thomas, saw Norton win 6/5. Ali fought from the first rounds with a bad jaw and ended very badly.

The second fight between the two was on September 28, 1976, with Ali, WBA and WBC world heavyweight champion, again beating Norton, at the Yankee Stadium, Bronx, in a close decision; referee/judge Arthur Mercante scored 8/6, while the other two judges, Harold Lederman and Barney Smith 8/7, for Ali.

Unexpectedly, Ali suffers his third defeat against a rookie like Leon Spink, who only had 6 fights won with one draw as a professional boxer. In that fight, held on February 15, 1978, Ali relinquished the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight titles.

Leon Spink was 25 years old and made his youth weigh on Ali, who was 36. Spink and Ali met again months later, at the New Orleans Superdome, on September 15 of the same year (seven months later), Ali regained the heavyweight title, World Boxing Association (WBA) version, which his rival had taken from him at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas.

Muhammad Ali's fourth defeat took place on October 2, 1980, when he was already finished for boxing at the age of 38, against Larry Holmes, at the "Caesars Palace" in Las Vegas, Holmes retained his heavyweight title in the World Boxing Council (WBC) version in Ali's only defeat before the limit, KOT in the 10th round.

It was a painful night for boxing, seeing the best in the world being punished by Holmes, who on several occasions it was noticeable in the picture, no longer wanted to punish him. Holmes was undefeated in 35 fights and was a solid champion of the moment.

The "Queen Elizabeth Sport Center" in Nassu (Bhama) was the scene of Muhammad Ali's last fight and defeat. Trevor Berbick, who came up to fight with 19 fights won, 2 defeats and 1 draw, was in charge of closing his career, defeating him by points, when Muhammad Ali, was not even the shadow of what he had been and was only fighting for money and perhaps with the mistaken thought of wanting to return to be what he once was.

The decision was unanimous; Alonzo Butler ruled 97/94, while Jay Edson and Oliver Gray, 99/94.