People do not know as much about the past as they do the present.
This is true in all things not just sports.
Ali is still recent history and Robinson retired long before most people alive today were born.
As time passes Ali will become less relevant too..
Only the old time boxing fans even know about Robinson or many other fighters from that era.
I have noticed that most young people don't know anything unless they saw it on t.v.
Because Every boxer is less famous than Muhammad ALI... And at one time, every athlete, and every person in every country in every corner of the world, was less popular than Muhammad ALI.
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Muhammad ALI once held the rare distinction of being the most recognized face on the face of the planet. .
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Now as time progresses, technology improves, communication improves and current fighters and personalities are more well known than past personalities.
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While Robinson transcended and rose above the sport, he never had to endure the things that ALI did. The 60s and 70s were a very volatile time in this country, especially for Black-Americans, ALI was at the forefront of nearly all current events.
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When ALI refused to step forward to be inducted into the armed forces, due to religious beliefs, he gave up more than most people could ever dream of in several lifetimes. He was at the prime of his career and could not be beaten by anyone in the ring. However, because he was a member of the Nation of Islam, a very altered version of the Islamic faith, the Powers that Be wanted him out of the way.
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Just ask yourself if the AMA or the FDA is always honest with us and you will get an idea of what ALI was up against. Knowing what he stood to lose, ALI still stood against the establishment. He faced jail and the loss of his boxing license.
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While he never went to jail, he did lose nearly 4 years of his career. It is very likely that we have never seen the best that ALI could have been as a fighter.
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At this point, EVERYONE knew who Muhammad ALI, AKA Cassius Clay, was. There was no gray area with him. Either people loved him or hated him.
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Robinson lived and fought during a time when being Black wasn't a very popular thing in America. However, he never had to endure anything close to what ALI endured.
Sugar Ray Robinson is pound for pound the best fighter boxing has ever seen. The boxing purists and historians will tell you that. Muhammad Ali was Heavyweight Champion of the world in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the most famous and recognized man on planet earth. Also the heavyweight champ of those days was more noticeable. Sporting people who did not follow boxing knew who the heavyweight champ was. I will also say that Joe Louis Heavyweight champ from 1937-49 was more famous than Robinson as well. With Ali he was bigger than boxing he was a spokesman for a generation. Joe Louis was also a credit to the human race as one sports writer put it.
Oscar de la Hoya is more famous than SRR.
The reason is that Robinson fought 70 years ago, Ali 40 years ago & Oscar this last decade.
People forget the past or what they didn't live to see and remember what they did live to see.
For those saying that Ali did more than Robinson outside the ring; you're right but Joe Louis did more outside and arguably inside the ring than Ali yet very few remember Joe Louis.
He did a lot more outside the ring and Sugar ray lost more fights than Ali
Ali was known for more than just his boxing, he was an inspiration to many people outside of boxing when he stuck up for his Muslim beliefs etc, he is a true inspiration!
Sugar has a damn impressive record, and is one of the best, but not quite as good as Ali, In terms of fighting and popularity
No one in boxing history is more famous than Ali.
Ali is a very good marketer. He had a charisma that few have matched.
Someone said Ali had charisma. That's it!
But Ali is the greatest in the world.
Ali may have been the Heavy Weight Champ, but he lost a good chunk of his fights.
Less famous than ali? of course...He is even less famous than tyson, lewis, pacquiao and floyd, dela hoya...
