BoxRec

A day like today, on a Thursday night of October 2, 1980 in Las Vegas, Larry Holmes, the WBC World Heavyweight Champion, beat a helpless legend Muhammad Ali, 38 by TKO in 10 rounds.

In one of the most lopsided fights in boxing history, Ali tried to become champion for the 4th time. Physically broken way before the fight began, Ali was paid $8 million dollars for the fight. Holmes $10 million.

Holmes took it easy on his idol and boxing hero. He was a former sparring partner for The Greatest back in the 1970s.

Holmes became the Linear and Real Heavyweight Champion of the World. It was a painful night to see the beloved Ali getting pummeled by Holmes that way. Holmes cried. He had to. That was his boxing idol.

Your thoughts.

Ali's pre-fight sh*t talk and promotion of the whole thing was a lot more fun than the fight itself.

For the most part this one is best left forgotten.

Not sure about how easy he took it. He was powering those left jabs in, very hard, all night.

I am in no doubt he 100% felt sorrow afterwards, but not on fight night.

Would’ve been much better if Larry got him outta there in one or two rounds.
But even a terribly faded Ali can still hang in there

Muhammad Ali knew that he couldn't beat Larry Holmes. He was getting paid $10 million dollars, that's why he fought Holmes.

And his handlers were a bunch of hypocrites. They knew that he couldn't beat Holmes. But, because they were also greedy and needed the money they make themselves believe and make Ali believe that he could win. What a bunch of leaches.

I don't know. I'll bet Muhammad Ali probably DID believe he could beat Holmes. It's hard for a great fighter to recognize that he ain't got it no more. Deep down he may have feared this may be the case, but some part of him still felt he could pull it off I'm sure.

As for his handlers I don't know, but I know Angelo Dundee ultimately did the right thing and stopped the fight when nobody else in Ali's corner would've.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 15:00 I don't know. I'll bet Muhammad Ali probably DID believe he could beat Holmes. It's hard for a great fighter to recognize that he ain't got it no more. Deep down he may have feared this may be the case, but some part of him still felt he could pull it off I'm sure.

As for his handlers I don't know, but I know Angelo Dundee ultimately did the right thing and stopped the fight when nobody else in Ali's corner would've.

All of Muhammad Ali's handlers were hypocritical that night. Including Angelo Dundee. They were at fault. But, hey! Who can resist $10 million dollars?

They betrayed Ali in taking the Fight. They knew that he had Parkinson's. They knew that he was old. They knew that he had slurred speech. They knew that everything was wrong. Greedy bastards!

elmersalsa wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 19:33

gilgamesh wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 15:00 I don't know. I'll bet Muhammad Ali probably DID believe he could beat Holmes. It's hard for a great fighter to recognize that he ain't got it no more. Deep down he may have feared this may be the case, but some part of him still felt he could pull it off I'm sure.

As for his handlers I don't know, but I know Angelo Dundee ultimately did the right thing and stopped the fight when nobody else in Ali's corner would've.

All of Muhammad Ali's handlers were hypocritical that night. Including Angelo Dundee. They were at fault. But, hey! Who can resist $10 million dollars?

They betrayed Ali in taking the Fight. They knew that he had Parkinson's. They knew that he was old. They knew that he had slurred speech. They knew that everything was wrong. Greedy bastards!

I doubt very much anyone including Ali knew he had Parkinson's in 1980. I doubt he had it at the time.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑02 Oct 2025, 12:14 Ali's pre-fight sh*t talk and promotion of the whole thing was a lot more fun than the fight itself.

For the most part this one is best left forgotten.

Yeah, I even don't remember, at which moment exactly Holmes has knocked that mustache off Ali's face.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 23:10

elmersalsa wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 19:33

gilgamesh wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 15:00 I don't know. I'll bet Muhammad Ali probably DID believe he could beat Holmes. It's hard for a great fighter to recognize that he ain't got it no more. Deep down he may have feared this may be the case, but some part of him still felt he could pull it off I'm sure.

As for his handlers I don't know, but I know Angelo Dundee ultimately did the right thing and stopped the fight when nobody else in Ali's corner would've.

All of Muhammad Ali's handlers were hypocritical that night. Including Angelo Dundee. They were at fault. But, hey! Who can resist $10 million dollars?

They betrayed Ali in taking the Fight. They knew that he had Parkinson's. They knew that he was old. They knew that he had slurred speech. They knew that everything was wrong. Greedy bastards!

I doubt very much anyone including Ali knew he had Parkinson's in 1980. I doubt he had it at the time.

Believe it. He had it by then. It was a total mess. They should have never let him fight if they really cared for Muhammad Ali.

Poor Muhammad Ali. Under his eyes, were signs of sadness and despair. Both eyes were almost shut. He was helpless. That fight should have been stopped in round 5. But the greedy bastards like Bundini Brown wanted him to continue?

They all betrayed their man. He was the one feeding them. But, not even one of them, with the exception of Ferdie Pacheco, cared for his health. They should have never took the fight and advised Ali to stay put.