Boxing fans sure do love a debate over conflicting opinions, and there's no better breeding ground for a spirited disagreement than all-time comparisons.
But while everyone has a pick for the greatest fighter in the history of boxing, the greatest fight ever produced by 'the sweet science' and who would win a hypothetical time-machine bout between two legends in their prime, there's a non-human resource that has grown quite popular as of late.
Chat GPT is a polarising artificial intelligence source that can be asked questions for surprisingly coherent answers. It's not perfect, by any means - and what better way to test it to destruction than by posing it open ended questions that cause living things to melt down on social media?
So, we started by asking Chat GPT for the greatest boxing fight of all time, and moved on to a number of relevant follow-ups. Here's how it went (questions asked by a human are in sub-headlines; Chat GPT's answers are beneath those sub-headlines):
What is the greatest boxing fight of all time?
There are many great boxing fights that have taken place throughout history, and opinions on the greatest fight of all time can vary.
Some of the most highly regarded fights include the 1971 "Fight of the Century" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, the 1975 "Thrilla in Manila" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and the 1987 "War" between Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler.
You listed two Muhammad Ali fights when you were asked for the greatest fight of all time. Does that mean Ali is the greatest boxer of all time?
Muhammad Ali is widely considered to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, if not the greatest. He was known for his quick and powerful punches, his speed and agility, and his ability to outsmart his opponents in the ring. He also had an impressive record, with 56 wins and only 5 losses in his professional career.
Additionally, his impact on the sport and on society as a whole was significant, both during and after his career.
However, opinions on who the greatest boxer of all time is can vary and there are many other boxers who have made similar impact and have impressive records such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Rocky Marciano, and many more.
Would Muhammad Ali in his prime beat Mike Tyson in his prime?
It's difficult to say for certain how a hypothetical match-up between Muhammad Ali in his prime and Mike Tyson in his prime would have played out. Both fighters were incredibly talented and successful boxers in their own right.
Muhammad Ali was known for his speed, agility, and ability to outsmart his opponents in the ring. He also had a strong chin, and was able to absorb a lot of punishment.
Mike Tyson, on the other hand, was known for his raw power and intimidating presence in the ring. He had a very aggressive fighting style and was an expert in finishing off his opponents quickly.
Both fighters had different fighting styles, strengths and weaknesses. It's impossible to predict the outcome of a fight between two fighters of this caliber, but it would have been a very interesting and competitive match.