Muhammad Ali was boxing’s most iconic fighter, and remains a figurehead of the sport to this day, but despite the opinion of one opponent of his, he was not unbeatable.
Muhammad Ali retired with a record of 56-5, though was able to avenge three of his five losses.
He faced a great deal of accomplished fighters, and set up the biggest fight of his career with a win over Oscar Bonavena.
Oscar Bonavena was certain Muhammad Ali could not lose his next fight
In 1970, six years after his first win over Sonny Liston, Ali faced 46-6-1 Oscar Bonavena. Bonavena had lost twice by disqualification and twice to Joe Frazier, once by split decision.
A formidable opponent, Bonavena almost made it to the final bell, but was stopped as Ali dropped him three times in the fifteenth and final round.
According to BoxRec, Ali said, “It was the toughest fight I ever had.”
After his defeat Bonavena gave insight into what would happen if Ali and Frazier fought: “Listen, champ, I strong, but you stronger. Frazier never win you.”
In Ali’s next fight, he faced 26-0 Smokin’ Joe Frazier, who handed Ali his first-ever defeat via unanimous decision. Ali vs Frazier was watched by 10% of the population at the time, and set up one of boxing’s most iconic trilogies.
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier exchanged words in the ring during their fight
According to referee Arthur Mercante, Ali, whose coach abandoned him in the Jimmy Ellis fight, and Frazier had a brief exchange of words in the ring, with Ali, in an attempt to taunt his opponent, saying: “You know, you’re in here with the God tonight.”
Cold and composed, Frazier’s response nullified Ali’s efforts to get in his head, as he simply replied: “If you are God, you’re in the wrong place tonight.”
Ali, who beat Earnie Shavers thanks to his trainer’s genius plan, went on to win two out of the three fights between the pair, though was reportedly seconds away from quitting himself during the Thrilla in Manila.