Many boxing fans view the iconic Muhammad Ali as the greatest boxer of all time, but fellow legend Bernard Hopkins believes there is one man that ranks even higher.
Ali rose to stardom in the 1960s, and would go on to dominate the banner division up until the 1970s, becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion in the process.
He was involved in some of the most memorable fights of all time, including the ‘Rumble In The Jungle’ against George Foreman and the ‘Thrilla In Manila’ against Joe Frazier, coming out on top in both of those encounters.
Despite all of his success, two-weight world champion Hopkins has named who he thinks pips Ali to the post of being the best ever, once telling the media that he gives that honour to Sugar Ray Robinson.
“The best fighter ever is Sugar Ray Robinson. To me the best fighter after that is Muhammad Ali, and then the debate starts from on and on from there.”
Robinson’s remarkable career saw him compete from 1940 to 1965, hanging up the gloves just one year after Ali first claimed world honours.
He held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, before moving up and then winning the world middleweight title on multiple occasions.
Along with his title success, it is Robinson’s incredible record that is often discussed, with it at one stage reading 129 wins, 1 defeat and 2 draws, going on a 91-fight unbeaten streak in the process.
His final record saw him claim 174 wins from 201 fights, and Hopkins isn’t alone in his praise of Robinson, with Roger Mayweather also once naming him as the best ever, ranking him even above his nephew Floyd.
