Amir Khan, the former world champion boxer, has chosen Muhammad Ali as the greatest fighter of all time. Khan shared his opinion during a recent interview with TNT Sports Boxing.
Khan's boxing career started with a bang. He grabbed a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics when he was just 17 years old. He turned pro in 2005 and quickly climbed the ranks. By 22, he'd won the WBA Super-Lightweight World Championship. Khan racked up 34 wins out of 40 fights in his career, facing tough opponents like Marcos Maidana, Terence Crawford, and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. He hung up his gloves in 2022 after a loss to Kell Brook.
When asked about the greatest fighter ever, Khan didn't hesitate. He told TNT Sports Boxing:
"Muhammad Ali is the greatest fighter in the world in my opinion because of what he did in the ring and outside the boxing ring. He was not only a great champion but the people's champion more than anything."
Ali's boxing record backs up Khan's choice. The heavyweight legend won 56 out of his 61 fights, with 37 knockouts. He held multiple titles, including the undisputed heavyweight championship from 1974 to 1978. Ali fought in some of boxing's most famous bouts, like the "Rumble in the Jungle" and the "Thrilla in Manila".
Ali faced off against the best of his era. He traded blows with Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, Ron Lyle, George Foreman, Henry Cooper, and Sonny Liston. His career ended with losses to Trevor Berwick and Larry Holmes, fights that many felt shouldn't have happened due to Ali's declining health.
But Ali's impact went beyond the ring. He stood up against the Vietnam War and fought for civil rights. People remember him as much for his activism as for his boxing skills.
Ali passed away in 2016, but his legacy lives on. As Khan pointed out, he wasn't just a champion in the ring - he was the people's champion. His performances against some of the best heavyweights in history cemented his place as one of boxing's all-time greats.
