Joe Frazier said one man stood alone as the greatest heavyweight ever: “He’d beat Muhammad Ali”

Joe Frazier never needed much encouragement to take a swipe at Muhammad Ali during their bitter 1970s rivalry.

Their trilogy produced three iconic events, culminating in The Thrilla in Manila — a brutal finale that eclipsed the first two encounters due to the extraordinary punishment both men absorbed. Ali won the series 2-1, cementing his status as the standout heavyweight of his era and, to many, “The Greatest,” echoing his own famous moniker.

But Frazier — whose only career defeats came against Ali and George Foreman — insisted his nemesis was neither the self-proclaimed greatest nor the finest heavyweight of all time. The Philadelphia fighter instead chose a champion from a bygone era, a man who remains a popular pick for the division’s crown.

Speaking in a past interview, Frazier said:

“Joe Louis is the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.

Rocky Marciano is second only to Louis. Where do I rate Ali? Somewhere below me. I beat him, and if I could beat him, no doubt Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano could have beaten him.”

One of the longest-reigning heavyweight champions in history, Louis was not only a dominant boxer but also a symbol of hope to many — particularly after his 1938 destruction of Germany’s Max Schmeling at a time when the United States was on a collision course with Adolf Hitler’s regime.

During his career, Louis defeated an unprecedented six lineal heavyweight champions and stood as one of the most dominant figures of his era.