March 22, 1967: Muhammad Ali's Last Great Performance in His Prime

[elmersalsa]

On the night of March 22, 1967, world heavyweight championship boxing returned to New York City's Madison Square Garden for the first time in 16 years.

The most important and famous athlete of the whole entire world, The Greatest, Muhammad Ali defended his world heavyweight crown against veteran contender Zora Folley. It was a good scrap while it lasted. But, not many people at the time thought that it was going to be Ali's last title fight of the 60s decade. It was Ali's last fight of his absolute prime. At 25, he was stripped of his crown and boxing license by every state boxing commissions in the United States. Unbelievable! It was the first time ever, that a world champion, was stripped of his crown and of his livelihood of some bizarre circumstances.

Already unpopular by many because of his stance about the Vietnam War fiasco, Ali's right to earn a living like any other American was denied by the US Armed Forces because of his refusal to enter the draft.

As for his performance that night at the Garden, Folley, already 34 with 9 children and a wife, was way past his prime when he faced a champion at the peak of his powers. He gave Ali, aka Cassius Clay by many, lots of trouble the first few rounds. But once Ali settled in and figured Folley out, it was all over and a matter of time. Ali dropped Folley for the first time in round 3. It was over when Ali gave Folley two lightning quick rights and Folley dropped like a pine tree in the 7th round.

Folley, a game fighter said at the time that he doesn't see no heavyweight of the past beating this phenomenal boxer. Not Joe Louis. Not Rocky Marciano. Not Jack Dempsey. Not Jack Johnson. Was Folley right? Maybe a yes. Maybe not. But on that last fight of Ali's prime, he was unbelievable and unbeatable. On that night, he proved that he was The Greatest boxer, not only at heavyweight, but pound per pound of the 60s decade.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Lol, his last great performance was the spinks rematch.

[elmersalsa]

It was 50 years ago, today. I saw the fight on one of my tapes on Sugar Ray's Hit Parade program on ESPNClassic

[elmersalsa]

Zora Folley said that the Greatest was too fast. One thing is watching on tv or film, and the other is facing him and seeing those fast jabs and right leads on your face. It would not be a great experience for the nailee.

[Tony1244]

His last great performance is debatable, but it certainly came after the Zora Folley fight. I'd say his last great performance was The Thrilla in Manila.

[Ambling Alp II]

Agreed. He simply lost some of his speed and reflexes after the layoff. He was phenomenal from 1964-1967.

From 1970-1975, the third Frazier fight and the Foreman fight were probably his best. Hard to say when he was fighting someone not that good.
He gradually went down hill after the 3rd Frazier fight.

He probably could have finished Folley off sooner but goofed around some in the early rounds.

[elmersalsa]

Agreed. He simply lost some of his speed and reflexes after the layoff. He was phenomenal from 1964-1967.

From 1970-1975, the third Frazier fight and the Foreman fight were probably his best. Hard to say when he was fighting someone not that good.
He gradually went down hill after the 3rd Frazier fight.

He probably could have finished Folley off sooner but goofed around some in the early rounds.

Maybe Zora Folley was hard to figure out. In some boxers, you need to take time of what he has.

[Syntax Error]

I suppose that was the last performance of his real prime & the best Ali we ever saw.

[elmersalsa]

I suppose that was the last performance of his real prime & the best Ali we ever saw.

Ali was too fast, indeed. Too fast for a heavyweight.

[wvboxer]

Ali had a lot of fights, especially in the 70's, where he looked content to cruise & win on points. He had a lot of uneven performances. For me, the last time we saw the Ali who relied on hand & foot speed was the 2nd Frazier & Norton fights. After that, his greatest weapon wasn't speed but rather his toughness. The Ali of the Norton & Frazier fights were the last where he resembled the fighter of the 60's.

Technically, the Folley fight was the last we saw of prime Ali so the original statement is right. Ali in the 60's darted in & out rather than just circle. In the 70's, he didn't use his legs the same way to move around.

[Sidney Carton]

Folley was shot when he fought Ali.

Doug Jones knocked Folley out in the same seven rounds when Folley was much younger and better.

Alejandro Lavorante knocked out Folley in seven rounds.

Liston knocked out a prime Folley in three rounds.

[Ambling Alp II]

On the other hand, he had not lost a fight in four years and had wins over decent competition during that time. He was actually the #1 contender. No he was not in his prime, but he wasn't "shot" either.

Beside, this isn't a question of how good Folley was. It was if this was last great performance in his prime. The answer to that is clearly yes.

[SteveO]

On the other hand, he had not lost a fight in four years and had wins over decent competition during that time. He was actually the #1 contender. No he was not in his prime, but he wasn't "shot" either.

Beside, this isn't a question of how good Folley was. It was if this was last great performance in his prime. The answer to that is clearly yes.