that decade if not for the Congo setback. Really, if the 70s were as great a boxing decade as some claim, Foreman shoulda faced more quality competition than that single (& potentially fluke) night in Africa.
Really, too many got mystified by the media idol-making, imo. Ali was a genius of a fighter, no doubt, but his big personality probably had more to do with his legacy than his record & big fights.
But no other three fighters combined made Ali more than did that one fight w Foreman. And the fact the Ali never allowed a rematch should tarnish his legacy more than a little, imo.