v2 G.O.A.T Round 2 Group 8

First topic message reminder :

In the final group of Round 2 cricket, boxing, athletics and cycling face off for your votes.

Please vote for the participant you believe has achieved the most in sport

Please leave a comment as to why you voted.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:Probably Bradman for me.
Between him an Ali but, wheras Bradman is undoubtedly the best batsman of all time, can Ali definitely be said to be the greatest heavyweight?
Of course, you have to factor in the idea of Ali 'transcending' his sport, and the fact that boxing is a more global sport than cricket. But against that you have to set the sheer statistical dominance of Bradman over all other batsmen in history. So, Bradman just edges it for me.

Yes. His nearest rival is the great Joe Louis, record number of title fights won consecutively etc etc but I cant remember him beating anyone in the top 15 whereas Ali beat three in Liston, Foreman and Frazier. The latter two past his best and drastically reduced in speed and movement. Its akin to Barry Richards (with no county career in between). coming back in three years later and becoming the number 1 batsman, in probably the most demanding sport in the world. His career included fights against the hardest hitters ranked 9, 10, 15, 17, 39 and 49 in the 100 greatest punchers list - that's 100 out of every boxer ever. Louis is great but Ali is the greatest.

ShahenshahG wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:Probably Bradman for me.
Between him an Ali but, wheras Bradman is undoubtedly the best batsman of all time, can Ali definitely be said to be the greatest heavyweight?
Of course, you have to factor in the idea of Ali 'transcending' his sport, and the fact that boxing is a more global sport than cricket. But against that you have to set the sheer statistical dominance of Bradman over all other batsmen in history. So, Bradman just edges it for me.

Yes. His nearest rival is the great Joe Louis, record number of title fights won consecutively etc etc but I cant remember him beating anyone in the top 15 whereas Ali beat three in Liston, Foreman and Frazier. The latter two past his best and drastically reduced in speed and movement. Its akin to Barry Richards (with no county career in between). coming back in three years later and becoming the number 1 batsman, in probably the most demanding sport in the world. His career included fights against the hardest hitters ranked 9, 10, 15, 17, 39 and 49 in the 100 greatest punchers list - that's 100 out of every boxer ever. Louis is great but Ali is the greatest.

Fair enough.
Still think Bradman is more clearly the greatest of his sport, but it seems they're both going through anyway at the moment.

aucklandlaurie wrote:Bit ridiculous comparing cricketers and cyclists to a boxer.

True dat. The boxer ought to be in a separate field altogether with judo, figure skating, high board diving, syncro swimming and other judged spectacles - certainly doesn't warrant a place in a goat sportsman debate.
pretty poor group compared to woods and gretzky... merc in this one though.