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The veteran trainer says Louis’ dominance, finishing ability and historic victory over Max Schmeling place him ahead of Ali on his all-time heavyweight list
Teddy Atlas has ranked Joe Louis ahead of Muhammad Ali as boxing’s greatest heavyweight, arguing Louis’ dominance and résumé remain unmatched. While praising Ali’s extraordinary achievements inside and outside the ring, Atlas said Louis’ historic career still sets the standard for heavyweight greatness.
“Yeah, he was called the greatest, but he’s not quite the greatest on this list,” Atlas said on his channel of Ali. “He’s damn close. But he was great. He was special. He was a pioneer. He was part of history. He did as much outside the game as he did inside the ring.”
Atlas credited Ali’s unmatched speed, his return from a three-and-a-half-year exile and his ability to regain the heavyweight championship after losing much of his athletic prime. He described the first half of Ali’s career as a showcase of extraordinary skill and the second as a testament to his determination.
He called Louis the greatest finisher in heavyweight history, praising his balance, precision and ability to close the show whenever an opponent was hurt. Atlas also pointed to the historical importance of Louis’ first-round destruction of Schmeling on June 22, 1938, months before the outbreak of World War II.
“This man don’t only have to fight a guy who already beat him, he’s got to defend the world,” Atlas said. “The whole world was weighing on the shoulders of Joe Louis. He annihilated Max Schmeling.”
Atlas argued that no heavyweight has ever entered a fight under greater pressure than Louis, with the bout taking on enormous political significance as Nazi Germany promoted Schmeling as a symbol of its claimed racial superiority. Louis answered with one of the most decisive victories in boxing history, stopping Schmeling in just 2:04 of the opening round.
Atlas’ top five heavyweights are Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Jack Johnson, Rocky Marciano and George Foreman. He also left an open spot on his list for Oleksandr Usyk, saying the Ukrainian has already earned a place among the all-time greats but should complete his career before being ranked.
Will Arons is a veteran boxing journalist with more than a decade of experience covering the global fight landscape. A contributor to Boxing247.com, he reports on championship bouts, major developments, and rising prospects with a focus on accuracy, sourcing, and industry-informed analysis.
Source: boxing247.com