Muhammad Ali had just one name that came to mind when deciding on the greatest boxer of all time.
Many boxing fans place Ali himself in that conversation, after an iconic career that saw the legendary figure become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
He was involved in some of the most memorable fights of all time, claiming victories over George Foreman in the ‘Rumble In The Jungle’ and Joe Frazier in the ‘Thrilla In Manila.’
Ali competed for the final time in 1981, hanging up the gloves with a record of 56 wins from 61 fights. He became world heavyweight champion for the first time in 1964, but it was a man who last competed in 1965 that Ali deemed as the best ever.
Speaking in a resurfaced video, Ali shared his admiration for Sugar Ray Robinson, describing him as his hero.
“Sugar Ray Robinson, he’s still my idol. Pound for pound I still say Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest of all time.”
Robinson’s incredible career saw him win 174 of his 201 professional fights. He was involved in notable battles with Jake LaMotta, who he faced six times, along with the likes of Henry Armstrong and Randolph Turpin.
At one stage Robinson had a record of 129 wins from 132 fights, going on a 91-fight unbeaten streak in the process. He held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and became world middleweight champion on five occasions.
Ali isn’t the only boxing legend that viewed Robinson as the greatest in history, with namesake Sugar Ray Leonard also sharing the same belief.