BoxRec

Genuine knock down or not?

No. He stepped on Ali's foot.

I have looked at the footage on you-tube and it only shows it from the trunks up. The Punch was a Right to Ali's Side after Ali threw a left. It wasnt a sharp punch but Wepner turned with it. That along with Ali's Momentum took him down. Referee Tony Perez ruled it a knock down. Thats what I would have to go with. It was more of a push/punch and Ali losing his balance, but it was a knockdown.

Edit: Just found another video that had a still image from a ringside photographer that clearly shows Wepner stepping on Ali's foot as Ali was falling down. There is probably no way that a sure footed boxer like Ali would have not been able to move that foot after Wepner knocked him off balance with that right to the body.
Tony Perez didnt see it though. Officially it was a knockdown. Missed call by the ref.

yancey wrote:No. He stepped on Ali's foot.

This is all there is to it. Anybody that thinks otherwise is wrong

Ali always had trouble with Ding-a-ling Perez. If memory serves me right he took Ali to court for some comments he made...

evrenb wrote:Ali always had trouble with Ding-a-ling Perez. If memory serves me right he took Ali to court for some comments he made...

"Ali always had trouble with Ding-a-ling Perez." evrenb

Are you sure about that?

Perez is the ref who let Ali get away with murder for 12 rounds in the second Frazier fight!

Of course, Buzz will be along to postulate that Ali had Frazier ready to go in the second round and Perez saved Joe.

gilgamesh wrote:

yancey wrote:No. He stepped on Ali's foot.

This is all there is to it. Anybody that thinks otherwise is wrong

Correct.