Muhammad Ali '1980'

[yancey]

May 13, 1980

'LARRY HOLMES - MUHAMMAD ALI BOUT FOR 'RIO' HAS BEEN CALLED OFF'

The Brazilian Boxing Commission has turned down the proposed July 11, 1980
$14,000,000 WBC Heavyweight Championship Bout between Champion
Larry Holmes and 38 year-old former Champion Muhammad Ali.

The Commission said it would not allow a 'Third-Rate Circus' to be held in
Rio de Janeiro, and for the Promoters to take their Fight to other side of
the World where the 'stink' would not permeate over South America.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... P0VyCVGKqg

Did Lewiston, Maine or Miami Beach, FL bid on the Holmes-Ali fight?

Both of those places were use to a foul smelling odor.

[gilgamesh]

May 1, 1980

"BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT BLOCKS HOLMES-ALI FIGHT"

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... YASOX743Hg

If only everyone else would've blocked the fight.

[gilgamesh]

It was getting impossible to sell a Muhammad Ali fight for 1980.

* Houston, Texas
* New Orleans, Louisiana
* Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
* Taipei, Taiwan
* Cairo, Egypt

Everyone turned it down, as either the Government didn't want it, the Sports Directors didn't want it,
and/or the Financial Backers pulled out.

One bout that almost was put together, was Muhammad Ali vs. Eddie 'The Animal' Lopez
for late-July or August 1980.

HBO was willing to put up the money, for a bout to held in all places,,,,,,, Honolulu, Hawaii.

MASP {Muhammad Ali Sports Promotions} had an $80,000 'option' on Eddie Lopez, and this could
have been an entertaining bout, as the 27 year-old East Los Angeles Heavyweight was the #9 WBC
Heavyweight with a record of 18-2-2 {11 KO's}.

And, the 6' 2" 207 lb. 'slugger-brawler' was coming off of a Nationally Televised 10-Round Draw
with former Champion - Leon Spinks on March 8, 1980.

Fight Promoter - Don King was asked 'Why are you still trying to promote Muhammad Ali and push him back
in the Ring, when he's tired, old and no longer capable of performing at a satisfactory level.'

Don King replied, 'Because Muhammad Ali is the most identifiable person in the World.'

:?? :?? :?? :?? :??

It's Don King dude. Don King never gave a sh*t about any fighter. All he ever cared about is $$$$$$$$$

[gilgamesh]

Don King

Of course it was about money.

Larry Holmes didn't want to fight Muhammad Ali. He was happy making $1,200,000 per Title Defense
anyway {ie; Scott LeDoux}.

Mike Weaver only wanted $2,000,000 to fight Muhammad Ali, as he also said he wasn't greedy.

And, Muhammad Ali was only looking for that last 'Great Train Robbery' before riding off in the sunset.

During the bout with Scott LeDoux {July 1980}, Muhammad Ali was so embarrassing that night,
that he nearly ruined his chance for the 'Rainbow'. Muhammad acted like a 'fool' in Bloomington, Minnesota
- to the point where Larry Holmes said that he would rather retire and 'pump gas' in Easton than fight
Muhammad Ali.

Guess Holmes was just talking out of his ass. What is all this Ali embarrassing, and acting like a fool business? I assume he was talking a lot of sh*t, but that's what he always did.

[gilgamesh]

July 7, 1980

Bloomington, Minnesota

ABC-TV

During the WBC Championship bout between Champion - Larry Holmes vs. #9 WBC-ranked Scott LeDoux -
Muhammad Ali was performing like a 'Second-Rate Circus Clown' at Ringside between rounds.

The first time he 'acted' like that it was funny. But then the buffoonery continued, and
Mr. Ali made the promotion look like a Midwest Travelling Circus, while on National Television.

Scott LeDoux later said, that was the exact reason why he didn't want to fight Muhammad Ali.
Mr. LeDoux added, that Muhammad was turning the Sport of Boxing into his personal back alley
side-show, much like a 'dirty old man' who has no clothes on under his Rain-Coat that wants
to open up his coat and 'flash' people

Larry Holmes was really pissed. Muhammad Ali had turned the 'event' into a 'clown show'.

Sandy LeDoux {Scott's Wife}, 'My husband worked so hard to get where he is. The only thing he
wanted to do, is fight for the Heavyweight Championship in his hometown, and give the good people
here an honest performance. Then this man {Muhammad Ali} comes here and turns this night
into a 'freak show'. This man was supposed to some kind of Hero at one-time. He has become
an embarrassment not only to boxing, but to all athletes. Why doesn't he just go away."

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... w2w6XbUPvw

There ya go. I know you had to get the bad taste out of your mouth after admitting Ali had a good chin. Ali was finished in 1980 dude, everybody knows that. Any punishment he deserved for "acting like a clown" at the Holmes-LeDoux fight. He got and then some when he fought Holmes.

[Syntax Error]

All this talk about Ali '80 is intriguing, but one thing that I've always been curious about is Ali in 1981.

Ali came back at the end of 1981 to fight Berbick; coincidentally, his great nemesis, Smokin' Joe Frazier also returned after an ever longer time out to fight 'Jumbo' Cummings.

Neither man won of course, but I've always wondered why both men came out of retirement to fight in December 1981, plus, what would have happened next if both men had won their respective bouts?

Ali -v- Frazier 4 in 1982?

[yancey]

All this talk about Ali '80 is intriguing, but one thing that I've always been curious about is Ali in 1981.

Ali came back at the end of 1981 to fight Berbick; coincidentally, his great nemesis, Smokin' Joe Frazier also returned after an ever longer time out to fight 'Jumbo' Cummings.

Neither man won of course, but I've always wondered why both men came out of retirement to fight in December 1981, plus, what would have happened next if both men had won their respective bouts?

Ali -v- Frazier 4 in 1982?

Frazier wanted it, but of course Ali wasn't going to go there since he was going to quit while ahead.

Ahead on paper, at least.

Some thoughtful poster a few years ago advanced a theory that the way to determine the real winner of a trilogy was to compare the condition of the two combatants roughly 10 years later.

That theory makes a lot of sense.

[gilgamesh]

All this talk about Ali '80 is intriguing, but one thing that I've always been curious about is Ali in 1981.

Ali came back at the end of 1981 to fight Berbick; coincidentally, his great nemesis, Smokin' Joe Frazier also returned after an ever longer time out to fight 'Jumbo' Cummings.

Neither man won of course, but I've always wondered why both men came out of retirement to fight in December 1981, plus, what would have happened next if both men had won their respective bouts?

Ali -v- Frazier 4 in 1982?

Frazier wanted it, but of course Ali wasn't going to go there since he was going to quit while ahead.

Ahead on paper, at least.

Someone here a few years ago advanced a theory that the way to determine the real winner of a trilogy was to compare the condition of the two combatants roughly 10 years later.

I wholeheartedly subscribe to that theory.

Ali beat Frazier 2 out of 3 times, he was still Heavyweight Champion of the World 6 years after Joe Frazier lost the title. He's the better fighter, and he got the better of their trilogy.

I'm a bigger fan of Frazier too, between he and Ali I very much prefer to watch Frazier fight over Ali, but credit must be given where it's due. Ali was the better man 2 out of 3 times and is rightfully remembered as the better man.

[yancey]

All this talk about Ali '80 is intriguing, but one thing that I've always been curious about is Ali in 1981.

Ali came back at the end of 1981 to fight Berbick; coincidentally, his great nemesis, Smokin' Joe Frazier also returned after an ever longer time out to fight 'Jumbo' Cummings.

Neither man won of course, but I've always wondered why both men came out of retirement to fight in December 1981, plus, what would have happened next if both men had won their respective bouts?

Ali -v- Frazier 4 in 1982?

Frazier wanted it, but of course Ali wasn't going to go there since he was going to quit while ahead.

Ahead on paper, at least.

Someone here a few years ago advanced a theory that the way to determine the real winner of a trilogy was to compare the condition of the two combatants roughly 10 years later.

I wholeheartedly subscribe to that theory.

Ali beat Frazier 2 out of 3 times, he was still Heavyweight Champion of the World 6 years after Joe Frazier lost the title. He's the better fighter, and he got the better of their trilogy.

I'm a bigger fan of Frazier too, between he and Ali I very much prefer to watch Frazier fight over Ali, but credit must be given where it's due. Ali was the better man 2 out of 3 times and is rightfully remembered as the better man.

Ali the "better man"?

Bullshit.

You just don't know.

[gilgamesh]

Ali beat Frazier 2 out of 3 times, he was still Heavyweight Champion of the World 6 years after Joe Frazier lost the title. He's the better fighter, and he got the better of their trilogy.

I'm a bigger fan of Frazier too, between he and Ali I very much prefer to watch Frazier fight over Ali, but credit must be given where it's due. Ali was the better man 2 out of 3 times and is rightfully remembered as the better man.

"Better man"?

Bullshit.

Better fighter, whatever. You should've known I meant that. I'm a Joe Frazier fan, much more so than Ali. I have the utmost respect for Joe, but I'm not going to cut down Ali and his accomplishments just because of that though.

Credit where credit is due.

[dberry]

Not to go off in another direction.

1971.......Joe Frazier was the better 'fighter' and Muhammad Ali was the better 'boxer' for 9-Rounds.

1974......Muhammad Ali was the better 'boxer and holder', while Joe Frazier was the better 'fighter'.

1975......Muhammad Ali was better 'boxer and fighter', while Joe Frazier was 'badly faded' in skills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lefr0Frztv0

[gilgamesh]

Your very rational in how you respond and post unlike some haters on this forum Il Duce, but you are a hardcore Ali hater obviously. You slander him and put him down 100 times for every 1 compliment you give him.

[gilgamesh]

Mr. G-Mesh,

Where have I posted any 'I hate Muhammad Ali' statements.

I have backed up nearly everything with 'factual' reported documentation.

Now, about 1980 for Muhammad Ali...........

Was it really about trying to perform well in the Ring again, or was it about trying
to 'dupe' the public into buying a 'charade' so that Mr. Ali could reap in 'millions' of dollars.

You've never said "I hate Muhammad Ali" directly, but clearly 95% of what you post about him is meant to put him down in some way.

Larry Holmes got $100,000 and donated it to a Easton Boys Club

Muhammad Ali got $250,000 and was shopping for a Rolls Royce.

Implication: Holmes was a good-hearted charitable guy. Ali wanted nice things for himself because he was a selfish dick.

Ali acted like a clown at the LeDoux-Holmes fight, and embarrassed himself.

"In some of Muhammad Ali's early 1980 'gym sessions' {February/March 1980} in
Miami Beach, he got beat up by '8-Bout Professional' - Jeff Sims."

Clearly, you're reveling in these things. Everyone knows Ali was shot to sh*t in 1980, but you basically want to put more focus on Ali in 1980 and 1981 than you do on everything he accomplished in the 60's and 70's. It's easy to see through the mask frankly.

I don't know why you dislike Ali so intensely, or what the cause of it is, but clearly it's something.

[gilgamesh]

If you mentioned Ali in the 60's you'd be more likely to talk about his avoiding the draft, rather than any of his in-ring accomplishments.

[gilgamesh]

Mr. G-Mesh,

Fair assessment.

I respect your opinion and honest views.

I think we all know the many good things that Muhammad Ali did as a United States citizen.

You're definitely the most respectful hater (to other posters) I've ever seen on this forum Il Duce, I'll give you that

[dberry]

I don't know if Il Duce is a hater, he may not be a fan of Ali's, and I get that, but he isn't savagely attacking him. I have to say, I like the way the Il Duce tries to keep things objective and factual when posting these insights. Ali's draft doging, which I fully understand Ali's position, was an integral part of his career, as things turned out.

[gilgamesh]

I don't know if Il Duce is a hater, he may not be a fan of Ali's, and I get that, but he isn't savagely attacking him. I have to say, I like the way the Il Duce tries to keep things objective and factual when posting these insights. Ali's draft doging, which I fully understand Ali's position, was an integral part of his career, as things turned out.

I think he is when it comes to Ali, but he's very sly about it. Like I said he's definitely the most respectful hater I've ever seen towards the other posters though. A rare trait indeed. So rare, I'm not sure I've ever seen it before.

[gilgamesh]

August 1980,

'MUHAMMAD ALI LOSING WEIGHT FAST, ATTEMPTING TO GET IN SHAPE'

Trainer Angelo Dundee is pleased about the way his fighter has been losing weight, in attempt
to get down to 220 lbs.

Mr. Dundee said that he wanted Muhammad Ali to come at his lightest weight in years, to
improve his speed and quickness when he challenges WBC Champion - Larry Holmes.

The 'quick-witted' Trainer said that the key to beating Larry Holmes will be to out-quick him,
not out-slug him. 'Double-and-Triple' jabs, and then set Holmes up for the right-hand counter
will win this fight for the 38 year-old former Champion.

Kevin Kleven, the Physical Therapist for Champion - Larry Holmes, said that Muhammad Ali is
losing weight too fast, and at his current pace he will not have anything left when he enters the
ring against his fighter.

Mr. Kleven added, 'It doesn't matter what Muhammad weighs. He is coming down from a bloated
260 lbs., and he should be dropping weight at steady intervals. Not this quick 'fast-diet', just so he looks
good when he gets into the Ring.'.

Kleven was damn sure right about that...I'm not sure how much of it was the weight and how much of it was the age, but dropping from 260 to 220 in a very short timeframe certainly didn't help.