I’m 65, and I was an avid boxing fan up until Tyson came along, and then I got disgusted with it. I remember Cassius Clay, and I remember when he became Muhammed Ali, and I remember I ALWAYS pulled for his opponent. And I remember watching him destroy them all. I remember my frustration that no one could touch him (literally) until 1971 when Joe Frazier defeated him in a truly great fight.
Clay/Ali was a great boxer. Patterson probably had quicker hands, but nowhere near the punch (plus, Patterson could not TAKE a punch). Clay/Ali did things in the ring that had never been done before. And he was without doubt the quickest on his feet.
I would like to have seen a fight between Joe Louis in his prime and Clay/Ali in HIS prime.
In my lifetime, Clay/Ali was the greatest boxer.
FWIW, when both were undefeated champions, Frazier won the fight that really counted in 1971...