March 22, 1967: Muhammad Ali's Last Great Performance in His Prime
Posted: 22 Mar 2017, 09:35
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.
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.
