Professional boxers need sparring partners. At times, paid sparring partners fly in to attend camp when a fighter is training for a fight. Sparring partners, in fact, help a boxer get better and address plaguing issues. They challenge him and help him learn new dimensions. ‘ Greatest’ Muhammad Ali turned professional after returning from the Rome Olympics in 1960.

The journey that began with a unanimous win over Tunney Hunsaker ended on 11th December 1981, when Jamaican Trevor Berbick won unanimously. It was a glistening career matched by only a few. Out of the sixty-one bouts he fought, Ali lost only five. Such a momentous career could not have been possible without the support of numerous journeymen and, more significantly, the sparring partners. For they were the ones who helped Ali keep his hands sharp, to ‘sting like a bee.’

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It is challenging to point to one individual whose contribution was more significant than others. However, many shared their knowledge and expertise with The Greatest. Without a doubt, the latter absorbed the best, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Important sparring partners who supported Muhammad Ali

Alwin “Blue” Lewis: Standing six feet and three inches, Detroit, Michigan-born Blu Lewis’ name stands out most prominently among Ali’s sparring partners. Professionally active for just seven years – 1966 to 1973, his record stood at thirty wins against six losses. Nineteen of his victories came through knockouts. His fame took him to George Foreman, who hired Lewis before the Ken Norton fight on 26th March 1974 in Caracas, Venezuela. Likewise, a non-title bout with Muhammad Ali in Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland, on 19th July 1972, gave him widespread popularity. 

Alwin Lewis died in Flint, Michigan, at seventy-five on 21st January 2018.

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Jeff Merritt: Active between 1968 and 1982, Jeff ‘Candy Slim’ Merritt fought twenty-six career fights, winning twenty-two and losing three. Even though the six feet and five inches-tall New Yorker debuted in 1964, it was in the 1970s that he started fighting big names such as Ernie Terrell and Henry Clark. The boxer, with a knockout-to-win rate of 65%, remains largely forgotten. His claim to fame remains sparring with Muhammad Ali.

While his time as a mainstream contender was short, he had an excellent reputation among the hardest puncher in the Heavyweight division.

Jimmy Ellis: As an amateur, Jimmy Ellis fought Muhammad Ali twice. While Ali won the first, Ellis took the honors during the second. He took up professional boxing a year after the former did. Fighting fifty-three matches during the next fifteen years, Ellis won forty bouts, out of which twenty-four were knockouts. Angelo Dundee, Ali’s trainer, managed his career as well. Ellis sparred with Ali and fought on his early pre-world title undercards. Retiring in 1975, the years spent in boxing took a toll on his health.

The man who fought the likes of Joe Frazier, Earnie Shavers, and Ron Lyle died of dementia at age 74 in Louisville, Kentucky, on 6th May 2014.

They sparred with Ali and became champions as well

Tim Witherspoon: Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tim Witherspoon fought between 1979 to 2003. Participating in sixty-nine fights, he won fifty-five and lost thirteen among those. In addition, Tim knocked out his opponents thirty-eight times. The WBC and WBA title holder in 1984 and 1986 used to spar with Muhammad Ali. It was Ali who gave him the moniker “Terrible” Tim Witherspoon. 

Post-retirement from active boxing, the former champion trainers boxers in his home city Philadelphia. 

Larry Holmes: “The Easton Assassin” became a world champion in 1975 and held the title till 1985. Beginning on 21st March 1973, by the time Larry retired, he participated in seventy-five fights. He won sixty-nine out of those and lost only six. In addition, he managed to knock out forty-four opponents during the period. 

From 1972-1975, Holmes sparred with Ali. They were together until Ali’s 1975 title defense against Chuck Wepner. After that, Holmes decided to go solo to advance his career. With Ali as his sparring partner, he felt he’d never be a world champion.

Retiring in 2002, the International Hall of Fame inductee stands among the greatest boxers of all time.

An incomplete list

The article’s scope may not permit the inclusion of many more names who contributed to making Muhammad Ali, the greatest of all time. However, glancing at some of the notable names remains a worthwhile exercise.

Mel Turnbow

Cody Jones 

Leon Spinks 

Tony Tubbs 

Eddie ‘Bossman’ Jones 

Rahman Ali 

Joe Bugner 

Jeff Simms

Rocky Marciano

Watch Out for More: 8 Muhammad Ali Quotes That Will Live Forever

A sparring partner brings out the best in you and motivates you to improve. Having a buddy in the support system is helpful. A good sparring partner may help you sharpen your skills and provide insight into your weaknesses and strengths.