Why was there no Ali-Foreman rematch?

[QueensburyRules]

Was there a demand for a rematch???

- -Ali said a black Indonesian oilman offered a split 50-50 $10 purse for the immediate rematch in Nov 1974 Playboy interview, but Ali remained noncommittal.

How many times do I have to pound it into chowder noggins around here?

[HOUDINI563]

Ali only went to the ropes after finding himself in a 16 foot ring (Zach Clayton called it the smallest ring he ever saw “like a postage stamp”) with a heavily padded canvas. After round one he knew he could not move in that ring for 15 rounds. So he didn’t.

The rematch did not occur because of various reason. First George disappeared for 15 months. Did himself no good with the debacle in Toronto then was nearly stopped by Lyle in his first real fight after losing to Ali. Another point was everyone was so convinced that Foreman would ko Ali. When he didn’t and was koed himself the public lost allot of interest in him. Also between his comeback win vs Lyle and his loss to Young we are only talking 13-14 months in total. Most were interested in Ali fighting a third bout vs Norton by 1976 as Ali had settle the score with Frazier in late 75.

[QueensburyRules]

Ali only went to the ropes after finding himself in a 16 foot ring (Zach Clayton called it the smallest ring he ever saw “like a postage stamp”) with a heavily padded canvas. After round one he knew he could not move in that ring for 15 rounds. So he didn’t.

The rematch did not occur because of various reason. First George disappeared for 15 months. Did himself no good with the debacle in Toronto then was nearly stopped by Lyle in his first real fight after losing to Ali. Another point was everyone was so convinced that Foreman would ko Ali. When he didn’t and was koed himself the public lost allot of interest in him. Also between his comeback win vs Lyle and his loss to Young we are only talking 13-14 months in total. Most were interested in Ali fighting a third bout vs Norton by 1976 as Ali had settle the score with Frazier in late 75.

- -The ropes Dundee loosened before the fight...Duh?

Tried the same stunt in MSG/JoeI. Teddy Brenner caught him red handed and kicked him out until FightNite.

What grade U in after all these years?

[Combat Talk Radio]

I always thought it was because he lost the Young fight. I suspect there are many other stories floating around about Ali's intent, but in the end Foreman needed to win the Young fight and didn't.

That year, 1977 Ali fought Evangelista in May and Shavers in September. Foreman lost to Young in March.

With a Foreman victory in March there would have been room for a rematch in '77.

Before Ali, Evangelista never fought outside of Spain, so I suspect he wasn't a mandatory, but instead just another European walkover fight for Ali.

Shavers on the other hand had a pretty good 1976-1977, (having lost to Ron Lyle back in 1975), but there were no wins over any big names.

Ali could have passed on either Evangelists or Shavers in '77 and made room for Foreman; no one would have complained.

Forget where I saw this, but

There was some sort of TV special where it was discussed that Foreman tried to bait Ali into a rematch but Ali refused, which triggered the infamous "5 Bums" night.




I don't think it was the Young loss, I think Ali just moved on because there was really no point in a rematch.

[QueensburyRules]

Forget where I saw this, but

There was some sort of TV special where it was discussed that Foreman tried to bait Ali into a rematch but Ali refused, which triggered the infamous "5 Bums" night.




I don't think it was the Young loss, I think Ali just moved on because there was really no point in a rematch.

- -Fact is he refused $5 mil for the rematch to fight Wepner in Podunk Ohio for $1 mil where he looked like doggie mess to never recover a semblance of his prime form. Worse, the punishment he took set the stage for his next 4 debilitated decades.

[HOUDINI563]

There was no evidence whatsoever that Dundee loosened the ropes prior to fight time vs Foreman. Dundee adamantly denied it. In fact he stated he was tightening the ropes during the fight as he was afraid Ali was going to fall out of the ring.

The main reason why the ropes were loose was they were designed for a much larger ring.

[QueensburyRules]

There was no evidence whatsoever that Dundee loosened the ropes prior to fight time vs Foreman. Dundee adamantly denied it. In fact he stated he was tightening the ropes during the fight as he was afraid Ali was going to fall out of the ring.

The main reason why the ropes were loose was they were designed for a much larger ring.

- -U bowels running loose today?

Tried the same stunt at MSG that Teddy Brenner kicked him out over. Ali was laying on the ropes in sparring sessions even in his prime. Even against little feather fisted Jimmy Young.

He had it trademarked!

[HOUDINI563]

Ali attacked Young for most of that fight. This led to 2 standing 8 counts as Young put his head through the ropes as if he was leaving the ring.

During the first round vs Foreman Ali realized he could not move for 15 rounds in a postage stamp sized ring with a heavily padded canvas. George was also doing a good job cutting the ring. This is why immediately when the second round bell rang he backed directly up to the ropes.

There is no evidence whatsoever that Ali’s corner loosened the ropes in Zaire. Dundee decades later denied it repeatedly. The ropes were loose because they were mismatched with the ring size. The ropes were designed for a much larger ring. Thus the difficulty tightening them during the fight. They never appeared very tight even with tightening.

[QueensburyRules]

Ali attacked Young for most of that fight. This led to 2 standing 8 counts as Young put his head through the ropes as if he was leaving the ring.

During the first round vs Foreman Ali realized he could not move for 15 rounds in a postage stamp sized ring with a heavily padded canvas. George was also doing a good job cutting the ring. This is why immediately when the second round bell rang he backed directly up to the ropes.

There is no evidence whatsoever that Ali’s corner loosened the ropes in Zaire. Dundee decades later denied it repeatedly. The ropes were loose because they were mismatched with the ring size. The ropes were designed for a much larger ring. Thus the difficulty tightening them during the fight. They never appeared very tight even with tightening.

- -Regurgitating U pablum again.

Never met as single soul who thought Ali won.

Derision of results was his new curse since he needed to be retired.

[HOUDINI563]

Such a poor soul. I feel sorry for you.