How Badly Hurt?

THE DANCING MASTER · Post by **THE DANCING MASTER** » 21 Jul 2005, 14:08

Last night I watched my copy of Ali-Frazier I for the first time in a while, and there is one thing I have always wonder about. Just how badly was Ali hurt in the infamous 11th round? After he was tagged while against the ropes Ali spent the rest of the round holding on while on rubbery legs. Frazier later said that he thought Ali was playing possum to try and sucker him in. I also remember reading where Arthur Mercente went to Ali's corner before the start of the 12th and he was amazed to hear Ali speaking clearly to Dundee and Brown.

So just how badly was Ali stunned during that round? I say that he was badly shaken up, indeed, but not quite as badly as he let on. If was playing possum to some degree as Frazier claimed, the stratgedy worked. He lasted the round and finished the fight on his feet.

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 21 Jul 2005, 14:16

I have wondered that as well. He looks as if he's playing possum but why the hell do that if you're already tired and it's gonna give Frazier a big round?? If indeed he was playing a little bit it was one of the stupidest decisions in boxing . . .

tiredoldngrey · Post by **tiredoldngrey** » 21 Jul 2005, 14:50

After a shot like that short, short hook he took if he had the presnce to play that hurt then, as successful as he was in the ring, Ali missed hisd calling.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 21 Jul 2005, 15:02

He was hurt bad but got through it with his heart and guile... Ali had great recupertive powers so by the end of the round he had more or less recovered but he was definately badly hurt and took shots there which would have koed more or less every other Heavyweight.

walshb · Post by **walshb** » 21 Jul 2005, 16:00

Ali, the greatest chin in Heavyweight history????

dnahar32 · Post by **dnahar32** » 21 Jul 2005, 16:15

I think Ali was hurt bad, but there in the heat of the moment he had enough energy and was smart enough to fool Joe. All those mind games from the press conferences and hype from before the fight paid off. If it was Oscar Bonavena or Jerry Quarry, Frazier doesn't think twice about going for the KO.

Remember, Ali did this again when he told Foreman "Is that all you got?" after Foreman landed hellacious body blows to him on the ropes and Foreman eased up.

Other great fighters have also done this to survive, including Benny Leonard who famously whispered to Tendler when Tendler had him hurt to buy some time.

Ali was one of the smartest fighters of all time.

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 22 Jul 2005, 11:17

Ali was a great actor in the ring. He sometimes takes shots and yet he doesn't seem that hurt. He may wobble but he somehow seems very convincing that he is not as hurt as he must be.

This must have been very disconcerting for opponents, especially big bangers who were used to chopping down other fighters. Against Foreman Ali backs off but he never looks to be hurt by any of his shots. He must have been feeling pain but he doesn't show it. This took George down a road that he ahd never been before.

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 22 Jul 2005, 12:05

Best Chin in History I would say, great eyes and reflexes as well, he could view the incoming an get better defensive angles in a millisecond. He also trained very hard to be able to take body shots. That body training seemed to have worked out for him as well. Durability.

Some of the contributors here believe that his remarbable ability to take and survive headshots is the very reason he is in the shape he is in today. Some argue that if he would have been knocked out on some of these occasions he might have had less "after effects' of his career. Since he would not have had to take any follow up shots.

I am not convinced about his current condition being directly attributal to that but understand the legitimacy of the theory.

Sweet Scientist · Post by **Sweet Scientist** » 22 Jul 2005, 13:18

I vividly remember watching that fight live at a large arena, four huge screens...a big Ali fan, that punch was the one that started me thinking...he could actually lose this fight, up until then it was very competitve & fairly even...seemed like 70% hook, 30% uppercut...and BOOM...Ali was in big time trouble...I always hated that laying on the ropes and waving the guy in thing, what a difference from 4 years earlier...he really got creamed with that one, most guys would've folded right then and there...he put on a little 'show' with the face, but he was definitely hurt...and was lucky to duck that big shot a few seconds later, lucky to survive the round...good chin, recuperative powers and all...

Sweet Scientist · Post by **Sweet Scientist** » 22 Jul 2005, 13:32

BoxBuzz wrote:Best Chin in History I would say, great eyes and reflexes as well, he could view the incoming an get better defensive angles in a millisecond.

...earlier in his career, from 1967 on back...you're absolutely correct...

...after the layoff, that's one of the things that deteriorated to a degree...and it worsened over time, as one might expect...the guy once relied on speed and reflexes, the first things to go in a fighter...3 1/2 year layoffs don't help...Joe Louis similar after WW II...not nearly as sharp anymore...