BoxRec

November 13, 1977, Bernardo Mercado fought Muhammad Ali in a five round exhibition in Bogota, Columbia to support the Roosevelt Children's Hospital.

The match was described as "a marvelous show of mastery and boxing intelligence".

Joe Conforte said that Mercado knocked Ali down four times, but there is no corroborating evidence of this.

Karla Mercado and Bernardo Mercado have not responded to my queries on this subject and so I'm hoping that someone here as some information on this.

Any feedback would be appreciated!

I can't say I've heard anything, probably Conforte trying to drum up interest in a fight that was talked about between them. Do you have a link to the "a marvelous show of mastery and boxing intelligence" quote?

Back in the mid 1970's,Ali use to frequently get"knocked down" by his opponent in exhibitions.
I think he did it to get a rise out the crowd.
Elmo Henderson thought for years that he actually knocked Ali down in an exhibition in Houston Texas.

Johnny Frankham also thought he dropped Ali in an exhibition too, but was all for show, and its easy to see why because Frankham as a pro didnt have much power at all in either hand.

Caractacus wrote:Back in the mid 1970's,Ali use to frequently get"knocked down" by his opponent in exhibitions.
I think he did it to get a rise out the crowd.
Elmo Henderson thought for years that he actually knocked Ali down in an exhibition in Houston Texas.

I think Arnold from different strokes knocked him down once.

Arnold had a sneaky right hand. Never understood why he didn't use it against the Gooch.

Controversial wrote:I can't say I've heard anything, probably Conforte trying to drum up interest in a fight that was talked about between them. Do you have a link to the "a marvelous show of mastery and boxing intelligence" quote?

Nevada State Journal, Sports Section, Page 14, "As usual, Ali in spotlight," col. 3, para. 2: "His 5-round exhibition match Monday night against Columbian Mercado was described by the local press as "a marvelous show of master and boxing intelligence."

col. 3, para. 5: "During his bout, Ali displayed the usual mockery combined with refined boxing."

I remember reading an interview with Mercado's manager (was it Don Manuel?) after the Leon Spinks fight where he stated he had invested $750,000 in Mercado in the belief he could win the title. Obviously his gamble went south. Bearing that in mind, I can see why Mercado's people would come up with whatever they could to bring about a fight with Ali for financial reasons.

osc1360 wrote:

Controversial wrote:I can't say I've heard anything, probably Conforte trying to drum up interest in a fight that was talked about between them. Do you have a link to the "a marvelous show of mastery and boxing intelligence" quote?

Nevada State Journal, Sports Section, Page 14, "As usual, Ali in spotlight," col. 3, para. 2: "His 5-round exhibition match Monday night against Columbian Mercado was described by the local press as "a marvelous show of master and boxing intelligence."

col. 3, para. 5: "During his bout, Ali displayed the usual mockery combined with refined boxing."

So did that article say Ali was knocked down?

No. The reference to Mercado knocking down Ali four times comes from the book by Joseph Conforte and David Toll, "Breaks, Brains & Balls;" self-published.

I don't believe Conforte, but I can't refute his statement.

Possibly I should contact the Bogota newspaper and talk to an archivist?

osc1360 wrote:No. The reference to Mercado knocking down Ali four times comes from the book by Joseph Conforte and David Toll, "Breaks, Brains & Balls;" self-published.

I don't believe Conforte, but I can't refute his statement.

Possibly I should contact the Bogota newspaper and talk to an archivist?

I would take it with a pinch of salt. Boxing is full of fisherman's tales, lies, propaganda and BS, especially when it comes from the fighters manager who is trying to get his man a title shot.