Don't know if this was mentioned already, but OLN is running a classic boxing series beginning tonight (Aug. 3rd). For those of you who, like me, have not been lucky enough to see many of the classics, I know about the following:
8/3 9:00 pm Ali-Bonavena
8/17 9:00 pm Ali-Norton I
I know there are others, but can't remember them right now. Just a heads up.
Classic Ali Fights on OLN
Had not seen that one in a few years...
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Last edited by DaveV17 on 20 May 2015, 00:21, edited 1 time in total.
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dempseyfire
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 5534
- Joined: 29 Oct 2003, 22:56
Re: Had not seen that one in a few years...
Bonavena was awkward but actually retained his balance fairly well while rushing in. He had a great chin, very good punching power, excellent stamina, good feinter, also always punched back right after he was hit clean. Makes you appreciate today's crop? He's a lot better to look at than either of the fighters last Friday night (Austin-Ibragimov) or the likes of Rahman, Ruiz etc.DaveV17 wrote:I had amost forgotten how uncoordinated Bonavena was in the ring. His balance is the worst I have seen in a rated fighter. I was not scoring the fight round by round, but it seemed about even going into the 15th round. The "knockout" was the result of some of the worst officiating in history. Ali stood over Bonavena and never went to a neutral corner.
Watching that fight makes me appreciate the current heavyweight contenders. I can't see the 5-10, 204 pound, straight standing, uncoordinated, Bonavena being any type of contender today.
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hebrew_hammer
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 33
- Joined: 14 Jun 2006, 15:48
Wow, that was a painful fight to watch - Bonavena just looks awkward, even though he did have the chin and power... and Ali's timing was way off. Even so, I was surprised that Cosell (who normally made Ali sound like he was winning more than he was) was actually downplaying his performance, and focusing so much on his deterioration of skills since his layoff. I had the fight 8-4-2 for Ali going into the last round. Even though Ali was off, he was landing the cleaner shots, and more of them, in most of the rounds. I consider my 2 even rounds gifts to Ringo. But what really hit me in watching this was just how much speed and conditioning he had lost. So much rust. I'm shocked that Dundee let him fight Joe three months later. I really think fights in March and June of '71 against some of the better guys (maybe Ellis and then a Bonavena rematch) would have really helped him get his timing back - and also realize he just wasn't as fast and elusive as he was in '67. Then, maybe he would have actually beat Joe the first time, if they had met in say November of '71.
Anyone else's thoughts on this?
Anyone else's thoughts on this?
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The Great John L
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 4351
- Joined: 26 Jul 2005, 19:37
Re: Had not seen that one in a few years...
You're right, he wouldn't be a contender. He would either be the undisputed CW champ, or he would hold an alphabet HW title.DaveV17 wrote:Watching that fight makes me appreciate the current heavyweight contenders. I can't see the 5-10, 204 pound, straight standing, uncoordinated, Bonavena being any type of contender today.
Never seen Chuck Wepner fight, eh?DaveV17 wrote:I guess we see things different. Bonavena is the least skilled, ranked fighter I have ever seen in the ring. Ali threw Bonavena around like a rag doll a number of times because of Ringo's terrible balance. If Jimmy Ellis was able to hurt Ringo, I suspect that others could hurt him too.
I wish it was possible for some of the contemporary heavyweights to fight Ringo. Especially if you guys would bet on Ringo. I could use the money.
Re: Good Point
Coopman was pretty bad. Ali could have taken him out at anytime but carried him so he could make his prediction right. Also, I think he was quoted as saying he was trying to wait for all the people in the audience to get in the arena. Coopman was so happy to be fighting Ali that he was drinking champagne before the fight! What a crazy AND inept bastard!DaveV17 wrote:evndrbsn,
LOL, you got me. I'll have to admit that Wepner was less coordinated than Bonavena. Ringo was strong, well condiioned, and looked like an athlete. I can't say any of that about Wepner. Wepner looked like a guy who played golf once a week to get in shape. How did Chuck last 14 plus rounds in a championship fight?
One other "contender" that might be worse than Chuck...Jean Pierre Coopmans, The Lion of Flanders. That guy has got to be the most inept fighter who ever fought for a title. And some people complain about the heavies of today...
Re: Had not seen that one in a few years...
What you been drinking son!???.... :x :x :xDaveV17 wrote:I had amost forgotten how uncoordinated Bonavena was in the ring. His balance is the worst I have seen in a rated fighter. I was not scoring the fight round by round, but it seemed about even going into the 15th round. The "knockout" was the result of some of the worst officiating in history. Ali stood over Bonavena and never went to a neutral corner.
Watching that fight makes me appreciate the current heavyweight contenders. I can't see the 5-10, 204 pound, straight standing, uncoordinated, Bonavena being any type of contender today.