I've Lost Some Respect For Ali..

[mickey malone]

A broken clock is right twice a day

lollollollol You funny old ****er!!

[Benny Leonard]

Guess the theory was if it isn't broke don't fix it?
Guess its why keeping an unbeaten record is not as important as losing a few fights and learning the game, ironing out weaknesses etc.

It may have not been broke but it sure wasn't perfect and that is something a person should strive for if you want to be the best in your field.

Actually, I take that back....it was broke if you think about it because his form wasn't good.

A Top mechanic needed to work on that car and tune it up properly and make sure everything was in working condition to get around the track and hit the corners to perfection.

[Abstraction]

Dude, watch the first bout.

It's not as if George was closing to winning the first bout but then gassed out.

Ali schooled him and was comfortably ahead on all three judges scorecards.

[mickey malone]

Dude, watch the first bout.

It's not as if George was closing to winning the first bout but then gassed out.

Ali schooled him and was comfortably ahead on all three judges scorecards.

Agreed, but do you think Ali should'a given him a rematch?
He gave rematches to other guys he beat easy, Bugner especially..
If there was reason for a rematch with Bugner, then why not Foreman?

[boxingbuff]

Although I couldn't quite believe it, I've just found out Muhammad Ali was solely to blame for not giving George Foreman a rematch.. Apparently George chased him for nearly 3 years to no avail, because ALI REFUSED TO BUDGE..
I thought Ali gave everyone rematches... Why am I so wrong??

Your wrong because George Forman was in no condition to fight anybody after getting KO'd by Muhammad Ali.George was in despair and deeply depressed,and grossly over-weight and out of shape.George was in seclusion and hid himself from everybody.

He was in no shape to fight anyone,let alone Muhammad Ali.If there was a rematch 6 months after the 1st fight,it would have been a one-sided joke.Forman was in alot better condition mentally and physically when he fought Ron Lyle.....Where he looked terrible and getting knocked down how many times? If that had been Muhammad Ali instead of Ron Lyle,Forman would not have won a round before getting knocked out!

Dang,who is your source?

While Forman was in despair and depressed,out of shape etc. etc. Ali defended his title 4 times in 1975 while whipping Smokin' Joe Frazier!

Forman was not near ready for Ali until atleast 2 years after the fight in late 1976 and early 1977.Ali was saying I WANT GEORGE FORMAN!!! WHERE IS GEORGE FORMAN!!!! After he beat Norton in September of 1976,and decided not to retire.THEY WOULD HAVE FOUGHT AGAIN had Forman not got beat by Jimmy Young.

Again.....Forman was deeply depressed and in deep despair after getting KO'd by Ali in Zaire.He did not train and got fat and out of shape.I mean alot worse then how he looked against Ron Lyle in his 1sr fight after Zaire.

Forman fighting Ali within a year after getting KO'd by Ali would have been a joke! Finally....Forman did not even want a rematch with Ali until 2 years after getting KO'd in Zaire.So Ali defended his title 8 times in those 2 years.

Fighting Forman(Who literally lost his mind)within' a year after KO'ing him in Zaire would have been a joke! Ali ducked NOBODY!!

[alfredkubin]

I think Ali fought an insane number of top heavyweights in the seventies, but he definitely ducked Foreman. The way I see it, his third fight with Norton was the key to this decision, because this fight showed that "he was through as a fighter" (original quote from a Sports Illustrated article) and he knew it. He had many brutal wars and should have retired right then and there, but greed and the people around him made him milk out some more money, and they arranged some fights with lesser opponents (Evangelista, Shavers, Spinks). At that stage in his career, he was planning his retirement and didn´t want any part of Foreman.

For anyone intereste din the full SI article

[D-MiZe]

I'm always quite uneasy about Ali's pre-fight antics.

I don't take any offense from them, but going to George's gym and throwing chairs at him and calling him an Uncle Tom is just wrong.

[mickey malone]

Your wrong because George Forman was in no condition to fight anybody after getting KO'd by Muhammad Ali.George was in despair and deeply depressed,and grossly over-weight and out of shape.George was in seclusion and hid himself from everybody.

He was in no shape to fight anyone,let alone Muhammad Ali.If there was a rematch 6 months after the 1st fight,it would have been a one-sided joke.Forman was in alot better condition mentally and physically when he fought Ron Lyle.....Where he looked terrible and getting knocked down how many times? If that had been Muhammad Ali instead of Ron Lyle,Forman would not have won a round before getting knocked out!

Dang,who is your source?

While Forman was in despair and depressed,out of shape etc. etc. Ali defended his title 4 times in 1975 while whipping Smokin' Joe Frazier!

Forman was not near ready for Ali until atleast 2 years after the fight in late 1976 and early 1977.Ali was saying I WANT GEORGE FORMAN!!! WHERE IS GEORGE FORMAN!!!! After he beat Norton in September of 1976,and decided not to retire.THEY WOULD HAVE FOUGHT AGAIN had Forman not got beat by Jimmy Young.

Again.....Forman was deeply depressed and in deep despair after getting KO'd by Ali in Zaire.He did not train and got fat and out of shape.I mean alot worse then how he looked against Ron Lyle in his 1sr fight after Zaire.

Forman fighting Ali within a year after getting KO'd by Ali would have been a joke! Finally....Forman did not even want a rematch with Ali until 2 years after getting KO'd in Zaire.So Ali defended his title 8 times in those 2 years.

Fighting Forman(Who literally lost his mind)within' a year after KO'ing him in Zaire would have been a joke! Ali ducked NOBODY!!

Well, I was of this opinion also, but the forum in general seems to be divided as to what actually happened.. I've had this argument on other threads, & to be honest, it's still in limbo.. I know George called him out a few times,(seen the vids) but if he was unfit to fight, then you could be right up there... I'm still not sure though.. Keep going, & let's find out.. Need some more input from Rooster & GreatA, they're pretty knowledgeable posters, who I believe back George on this one..

[sonnyboyx2]

Although I couldn't quite believe it, I've just found out Muhammad Ali was solely to blame for not giving George Foreman a rematch.. Apparently George chased him for nearly 3 years to no avail, because ALI REFUSED TO BUDGE..
I thought Ali gave everyone rematches... Why am I so wrong??

Foreman NEVER chased Ali for 3yrs nor did he ever look to get a rematch, Foreman was beaten so easily in Zaire that no-one called for a rematch and if it had ever happened Ali would have KOd Foreman within 6rds

[mickey malone]

Foreman NEVER chased Ali for 3yrs nor did he ever look to get a rematch, Foreman was beaten so easily in Zaire that no-one called for a rematch and if it had ever happened Ali would have KOd Foreman within 6rds

Yes... I know.... That's why I did the thread... Thanks for your input..