BoxRec

Il Duce wrote:On March 11, 1980

Bob Arum announced he had a fight set between 'Big' John Tate and Muhammad Ali
set for Taiwan in the late Summer of 1980.

A $14,000,000 'Mega Block-Buster'.

Muhammad Ali was already training in Miami Beach, though he got his mouth busted up on
Saturday - March 8th requiring 10-Stitches.

There was talk that Muhammad Ali was going to fight Scott LeDoux in a 10-Round Tune-Up in June 1980,
but those plans were later scrapped, as a 'Loss' to Scott Ledoux would ruin the 'Mega-Fight'.

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

Il Duce wrote: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.

Though there was 'talk' of an early-1980 Tune-Up Bout against Scott LeDoux, the
fear was that if Muhammad Ali put in a poor performance against the Minnesota slugger
it would destroy the late 1980 'Mega-Bucks' promotions for John Tate or Larry Holmes.

Fight Promoter - Harold Smith had put together a Muhammad Ali vs. Scott LeDoux bout
for May 1980 in Bloomington, Minnesota - with Muhammad Ali to receive a fight purse of
$3,000,000 for a 10-Rounder.

Scott LeDoux was supposed to fight Gerry Cooney in April 1980 in a National Television bout,
but Scott pulled out because of the larger fight purse offer, and easier fight with the former Champion.

There was also a proposal, to pit Muhammad Ali against 26 year-old - Willie 'The Cannon' Shannon
a 6' 4" 185 lb. - #3 Ranked Cruiserweight with a record of 18-0-0 {14 KO's} for a bout in
Portland, Maine and possibly for late-April.

But there was fear that a 'fat' Muhammad Ali at 235 lbs. standing next to a skinny 185 lb. opponent
would not look good on a 'Prime Time' Nationally Televised bout.

Il Duce wrote:April 7, 1980

Muhammad Ali wants Larry Holmes, but will fight Mike Weaver too.

While Bob Arum is scrambling to get the remaining money from his Brazilian connection,
Don King contacted the former 3-Time Muhammad Ali by telephone at his Deer Lake
Pennsylvania Training Camp.

Mr. King said he has put on the table a $7,000,000 Fight Purse offer for Muhammad Ali
to fight Larry Holmes in the United States this Summer.

Mr. Ali then shouted "I Want Holmes, I Want Holmes" over the Telephone to the Promoter,
while the conversation was being taped for release.

But Don King believes that Muhammad Ali does not want to fight the 'Real Champion', and
believes Mr. Ali is still hoping to fight Mike Weaver, which would be a safer bout.

Muhammad Ali who has now appeared to be somewhat of a 'joke', by calling out fighters, and then
making unreasonable fight purse demands, is in no real rush to fight WBC Champion - Larry Holmes.

In other boxing news, Heavyweight Contender - Scott LeDoux said he will be heading out to
Muhammad Ali's training camp at Deer Lake, to view the former 3-Time Champion in a work-out
session with several sparring partners, to determine if a 10-Round Bout with Mr. Ali could still be salvaged.

Scott LeDoux said he could still fight Muhammad Ali, beat him, and then fight Larry Holmes a month later.

Elsewhere, WBA Champion - Mike Weaver still said he would accept a $2,000,000 fight purse to face Mr. Ali.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... QHTxQU2rCQ

funso banjo baby wrote:again, you've just posted a google link that does not mention Cassius clay at all.


stop making poo up and grow up

yancey wrote:

funso banjo baby wrote:again, you've just posted a google link that does not mention Cassius clay at all.


stop making poo up and grow up

Can you people stop using the word "poo"?

Use "crap" instead.

It is more manly.

Il Duce wrote: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

Il Duce wrote:May 1, 1980

"BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT BLOCKS HOLMES-ALI FIGHT"

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

Il Duce wrote: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.'

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

Il Duce wrote: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.

Il Duce wrote: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

Syntax Error wrote: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 wrote:

Syntax Error wrote: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.

gilgamesh wrote:

yancey wrote:

Syntax Error wrote: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.