Muhammad Ali’s ex-wife doesn’t think he is the greatest boxer in the world
Boxing
By
Mirror
| Nov 26, 2019
Deontay Wilder has been hailed as the ‘greatest of all time’ by none other than Muhammad Ali’s ex-wife.
Wilder ensured his unbeaten streak continued on Saturday night as he stopped Luis Ortiz with a seventh-round stoppage with a stunning right-hander.
The likes of Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury ’s trainer Ben Davison were ringside in Las Vegas with Muhammad Ali’s former wife, Khalilah Ali, also present.
The pair married in 1967 when Khalilah was aged 17 and they went on to have four children.
Khalilah saw first-hand how special Ali was in the ring with many boxing fans ranking him as the best of all time.
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However, following Wilder’s fight with Ortiz, Khalilah declared the Bronze Bomber as the greatest of all-time.
“You are definitely the King of the Ring, you don’t have to prove anything, just do your thing,” she said.
“I told him, I said ‘look at that brother, you’re in trouble’. I knew it.
“I know the greatest when I see it. You are the GOAT (greatest of all time) brother. Thank you so much.”
Wilder is now set for a rematch with Tyson Fury early next year and is not short of confidence following his latest victory.
The American feels he has now started earning respect of those who don’t think he’s the hardest-hitting puncher in history.
"I think I earned my respect to say I'm the hardest-hitting puncher in boxing history. Period," Wilder said after securing his 42nd win from 43 fights, 41 by knockout.
"I do what I do time and time again. I give people great fights and great knockouts.
"You've got to give me my credit," he said. "It's sad that it took me over 40 fights to get the recognition that I truly deserve.
"When people see me, they have never seen my style. It took them a while to get used to what I display, my talent that I present to boxing.
"It's different to any other fighter. It's not textbook. You can't really teach it and that's what makes me unique from the rest of these fighters."