Clay won the 1960 Olympic gold medal in Rome as a light heavyweight, turned professional immediately, and tore through the heavyweight division. By February 1964, he had a 19-0 record and a title shot ...

From Ali and Joe Louis to Tyson and Holyfield, these are the nine greatest heavyweight boxers ever—ranked by greatness, résumé, and defining career moments.

A knockout is the one ending in sports that can’t be negotiated. No judges, no “he stole the last two rounds,” no debate about tactics. It’s just the cleanest full stop possible: one fighter still ...