You don't see this type of round very often...here we see a boxer, a slickster no less, dominate round one of a heavyweight title fight with punching. Everybody knows the story, Ali roaring and shouting in the run up that he was going to dance, stick and move, bewilder George with movement, and George working every day in the gym on cutting of the ring. Then, this. Some oservations:
Foreman looks really nervous. Anyone else?
Ali's footwork is literally perfect. He's giving away a tiny amount of ground when he wants to engage, just a tiny bit, and he does it with diagonal laterall movement rather than charging straight back. This means he can switch into his punches, use Foreman's own momentum against him as Foreman creeps forward to close the tiny gap, whilst still getting maximum purchase on his own punches. It's usually thought Ali's footwork and feinting were often for nothing - for show and for bamboozling the opponent generally, but here we see perfectly designed footwork, where almost every move secures a pay off.
Meahwhile Ali has faster hands and makes more unexpected angles. The techncially perfect right hand lead he throws at around 30 seconds of the round is a wonderful standard punch, but what about the little half formed left he throws straight at the back of it? A reverse one two without the jab in the first 30 seconds of the first round against a destructive puncher....circumstances turn Ali into a frightening pncher for these three minutes.
Much is made of Ali's bravery in throwing these right hand leads in round one, but because he is perfectly balanced and positioned he is not taking as big a risk as some seem to think. Ali doesn't throw the right hand unless he has his right foot outside of George's left foot. This, combined with George's moving in, means that George presents a target area immediately to Ali's right if Ali positions himself properly - which he always does - and he can get the right across almost as quickly as the jab by coming square just before he throws it. This IS risky but Ali pivot's as he turns, meaning only a very quick/smart fighter could take advantage.
Ali pretty much abandons this plan after round 1 - I think it's because he felt George was onto him. At the end of the round, George counters him with a straight, hard jab I think he felt. Ali did well to give it up.
One more thing - with 40 seconds left in the round, Foreman sticks his left into Ali's body and whales away with his right. This is an illegal mauevere. The ref is right in Ali's line of sight. But Muhammad doesn't once look at the ref or complain. He's there to fight. He's ready to take the rough with the smooth.
I think this is one of the, if not the best round Ali ever boxed. That makes it one of the best rounds anyone ever boxed. Footwork, generlship, punching, heart, he shows everything in these three minutes.
What do you posters make of this round of boxing?
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