Many people believe that Ali was the greatest professional boxer of all time. The Greatest wants us to understand why.
Created by Ben Watkins, The Greatest tells the story of Cassius Clay (Jaalen Best) from his earliest days as a young fighter during the 1960s. Set against the backdrop of a changing America, Clay fought for respect during a time when the country was in turmoil. As he becomes his own man, Clay’s journey towards success forces him to examine his own convictions. In the process, the young man from Louisville grows and transforms into the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali.
As one of the first true sports figures to be seen on television, Ali’s work in the ring and his undeniable charisma with the press are indelibly iconic moments. One can almost hear his voice whenever the phrase ‘float like a butterfly’ is mentioned.
Even so, Best proves to be a knockout, bringing Clay to life with a beautiful blend of humility and fury. Not only does he master the icon’s moves and charisma, but he also reminds us that the man himself is more than his legacy. From his complicated relationship with his father to the ownership of his faith, Best pours himself into the gloves in such a way to help us understand the motivations of the man behind the myth. Every step towards greatest is marked with challenge… but Best never loses the confidence behind his eyes.
However, it’s possible that the most underrated performance in the series is Joseph as long-time adversary Sonny Liston. More often than not, stories about Ali mean that his opponents are portrayed as ‘the other guy’. Yes, they’re a threat to his legacy but we don’t usually get much of a chance to spend time with them as people.
But that’s not the case here with Joseph’s Liston. Rather than simply view the famed champ as Ali’s rival, The Greatest allows him to become fully actualized within this world. Beginning with his prison release, we watch as he attempts to build a life on the other side. He makes poor decisions, finds love and desperately seeks redemption by proving himself in the ring.
In short, Liston is entirely human.
And credit must be given to Joseph for his strong performance as the former penitentiary pugilist. Physically, he remains an imposing presence. Yet Joseph ensures that we see the compassionate heart beating within the beast. To others, he’s viewed as the monster in the room. But we hear his desire to be viewed differently from his past. He wants to start a new life and find hope in the arms of a good woman. But, most importantly, he doesn’t want to be seen as the villain. (And that’s not an easy feat when the story is about the other guy.)
After all, the focus of the series lies very much around Cassius Clay’s journey to becoming the greatest of all time. But this isn’t merely an ‘origin story’ either. It’s a more complex look at the history that we all think we know.
What’s more, Greatest never loses sight of what’s going on outside of the ring as well. While it doesn’t delve deeply into the political struggles of the moment, the series puts an even greater burden upon Clay as an African American icon during the Civil Rights era. In doing so, Ali finds an even greater burden of responsibility upon his shoulders. Here, his success isn’t only about taking care of his family. Instead, it’s about representing the Black community with strength at a time when they’re fighting for respect.
That interest in broadening the impact of Ali’s career makes The Greatest unique and, arguably, something special. To be clear, that’s not to suggest that Cassius Clay is shown here as a man who enters the public sphere for particularly noble purposes. His career stems from his desire to prove himself in the ring and make the money that his family never had. Yet, neither is this merely the story of celebrity power. It’s the opportunity to explore the inherent authority that we give our icons and the way that they can use that influence responsibly, even if it begins with their own quest for glory.
The Greatest is streams globally on Prime Video on November 4th, 2026.
