George Foreman said Muhammad Ali was not the best heavyweight of all time while naming his top 5

Muhammad Ali was placed fifth on George Foreman’s list of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time.

“Big George” put together his top 10 for 2022, long before his sad passing earlier this year, and was only too happy to justify his reasoning.

The American had, of course, faced Ali in 1974, entering their thrilling battle in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, as the heavy favorite.

But despite his formidable punching power, Foreman ultimately failed to break the spirit of Ali, who tired “Big” George before scoring an eighth-round stoppage victory.

Based on that, many would have expected Foreman to put his old foe at the top, or at least somewhere in the top three, of his all-time heavyweight list.

But instead, the old demolition machine decided to award Joe Louis, who reigned as heavyweight champion of the world for much of the 1940swith first place.

“Joe Louis is the best heavyweight of all time as far as a boxer goes.”

The rest of his top five consists of Rocky Marciano, John L Sullivan, Jack Johnson and Ali, with Foreman not even placing in the top 10.

In the interview with SportSunForeman addressed Ali’s placement, explaining that “The Greatest” was named that not only because of his in-ring credentials, but also because of the impact he had outside of it.

“To talk about Muhammad Ali from a pure boxing perspective is a demeaning.

“He was bigger than that. Everyone’s life was better because of Ali.”

It was therefore from a strictly boxing perspective, rather than a reflection on his broader legacy, that Foreman chose to place Ali below the other four great heavyweights.