Joe Frazier said one man was single-handedly the greatest heavyweight of all time: ‘He would beat Muhammad Ali’

Joe Frazier never needed much encouragement to go after Muhammad Ali during their bitter 1970s rivalry.

Their trilogy produced three iconic events, culminating with The Thrilla in Manila – a brutal finale that overshadowed the first two encounters due to the extraordinary punishment both men absorbed. Ali won the series 2-1, cementing his status as a notable heavyweight of his era and, for many, “The Greatest”, echoing his own famous nickname.

But Frazier – whose only career defeats came against Ali and George Foreman – insisted his foe was neither the greatest nor the best self-proclaimed heavyweight of all time. The Philadelphia fighter instead chose a champion from a bygone era, a man who remains a popular choice for the division’s crown.

Speaking in a previous interview, Frazier said:

“Joe Louis is the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.

Rocky Marciano is right behind Louis. Where can I review Ali? Somewhere below me. I beat him, and if I could have beaten him, Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano definitely could have beaten him.

One of the longest-reigning heavyweight champions in history, Louis was not only a dominant boxer but also a symbol of hope for many – particularly after his 1938 destruction of Germany’s Max Schmeling, at a time when the United States was on a collision course with Adolf Hitler’s regime.

During his career, Louis defeated an unprecedented six lineal heavyweight champions and established himself as one of the most dominant figures of his era.