Reply #49: Well, yes. In fact,

[H2O Man]

you can often tell more about the person who holds or expresses the opinion on this question, than you can about the fighters themselves. That makes it fun. Also, there is a pool of people with serious opinions & insight on the strangely attractive sport of boxing.

One day a few years ago, at a family picnic, my brother and I were debating some of the younger generation. It was when Tyson was still Iron Mike, and the younger guys felt he was the "best ever." Well, of course my brother and I insisted Ali would have spanked Tyson.

At the end of the day, long after the conversation ended, my brother looked at me and said, "You know, even if there ever is someone better, I'll never be able to admit it to myself." Ha! Now there was an echo from my late father, who insisted Joe Louis could have taken Ali easily; or his father, who was convinced no man could stand up to Jack Dempsey in his prime. The difficulty in judging fighters from different eras is not limited to their being a product of their generation: we are, too!