Happy Birthday, Champ!

And now for something completely different: In honor of the GOAT’s birthday, one day early, I present a list of the top fights in Muhammad Ali’s career, ranked. Highly subjective justifications follow. My criteria, such as they are, center on Ali’s greatness writ large, and not solely for his boxing acumen, significance as an activist, or humanitarian greatness. I remain inspired by the Greatest of All Time, no less in these trying days. Comments and counter-takes welcome!:

10 Ali-Shavers, 1977: The Champ should not have taken this fight against one of the great punchers. Ali wins in the last rounds, the indomitable spirit on full display.
 
9 Ali-Norton I, 1973: Ali comes back to avenge only his second loss, just six months after Norton defeated him and broke his jaw. Other than Frazier, Norton was almost certainly Ali’s toughest opponent.
 
8 Clay-Cooper I, 1963: Only the second time the young Clay was knocked down, a particularly humiliating development given the “Louisville Lip’s” public reputation at that time. Clay regathered himself and went on to TKO Cooper, setting up the historic match-up with Liston.
 
7 Ali-Williams, 1966: Cleveland Williams (a great fighter at his peak) was well past his prime at this point, but the fight represents the absolute pinnacle of the Ali style: fast, pretty, floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee. Boxing’s greatest aesthetic. A short fight, but well worth a YouTube visit: Muhammad Ali vs Cleveland Williams
 
6 Ali-Ellis, 1971: An unheralded fight in Ali’s career, but it should not be. Not the most impressive technical win, but the first bout after Ali’s historic loss to Frazier, signaling the GOAT’s determination to make the arduous slog back up the rankings to reclaim the stolen title. Perhaps the best example of Ali’s iron determination.
 
5 Ali-Terrell, 1967: The historic “What’s my name?” fight. This was a tough match for Ali, but the one most representative of Ali claiming a particular form of Blackness for himself, and in so doing, suggesting to others that Blackness was a category to be self-defined, not assigned. While a fair bit of the animosity with Terrell was staged, this was nevertheless Ali at his most political in the ring, which carried well outside the ring as well.
 
4 Ali-Spinks II, 1978: The only man ever to reclaim the World’s Heavyweight Championship for the third time. Ali is well past his prime, but his athletic and intellectual resourcefulness are well in evidence. The fights with Spinks are usually relegated in the memory of Ali, but this was one of the great athletic achievements of all time.
 
3 Clay-Liston I, 1964: “I am the Greatest! I shook up the world!” A champion, and an American figure for the ages, finds his voice.
 
2 Ali-Frazier III, 1975: "The Thrilla in Manila." One of the greatest heavyweight bouts of all time. As close to death as he ever felt, Ali said later. Both Ali’s and Frazier’s greatness are on full display here.
 
1 Ali-Foreman, 1974: "The Rumble in the Jungle." No one gave him a chance against the formidable Foreman. What more needs to be said? (Watch the fight on YouTube, then stay tuned for Ali’s post-fight press conference!)
 
Honorable mention: Ali-Chuvallo I, 1966: the first time the Champ is taken the distance, by a tough, tough Canadian champion.
 
Honorable mention II: Ali-Mathis, 1971: an ugly fight, but one where Ali’s instinct to not physically damage his opponent is on full display. Ali carried many of the lesser fighters he fought rather than inflict maximum physical damage. He spoke about this often and this quality of mercy is part of his approach to boxing that does not get mentioned enough.
 
Honorable mention III: Ali-Frazier I and II, 1971 and 1974: Boxing’s greatest rivalry has to be recognized. Two epic fights.