BoxRec

Hello all...

I am curious to know what you guys think would be the outcome of a meeting between these two talented men.

Muhammad Ali 6'3 and 212lb of 1967 era around the time he defeats Folley and Terrel.

Vs

Greg Page 6'2 and 230lb of 1981 who defeated Ledouz and Young. NOt the man who later on in the year would lose to the powerful Berbick.

Thoughts...

Kym

Ali by shutout.

why is it stupid ?

I don't think Ali ever faced a man like Page, especially
that heavy.

I think Ali would win, but by split decision.

Ali did have some flaws you know.

Sure Page wasn't perfect and would prove like many 80s
talents to lack career staying power, he would in my opinion
provide a difficult opponent for Ali.

Page, had good speed, power, a nice jab, a fast right lead and
was nimble for a big guy. Im talking about a peak in shape
Page...not the guy who he went on to become.

Sorry for bringing it up.

Kym

I LIKE PAGE.
BUT COME ON.HE WAS AN UNDERACHIEVER
VERSUS ARGUABLY THE GREATEST HEAVYWEIGHT IN HISTORY.
ALI BY SHUTOUT

Robinson wrote:why is it stupid ?

I don't think Ali ever faced a man like Page, especially
that heavy.

I think Ali would win, but by split decision.

Ali did have some flaws you know.

Sure Page wasn't perfect and would prove like many 80s
talents to lack career staying power, he would in my opinion
provide a difficult opponent for Ali.

Page, had good speed, power, a nice jab, a fast right lead and
was nimble for a big guy. Im talking about a peak in shape
Page...not the guy who he went on to become.

Sorry for bringing it up.

Kym

Ummm, Page WAS in shape when he lost to Berbick.

This is like saying: who wins . . .Golota v Ali

The Golota who whupped Bowe, Nicholson, and Sanders, not the guy who lost to Lewis, Grant, Tyson etc.

Page had natural talent but as a professional fighter he was subpar.

Ali would win just on heart alone, not even adding in his superior foot-speed, ring generalship, defense, pace etc.

No contest...Ali by far in all overall skill. The Ali of 1967 was too awesome

The 6'3" Page would lose by shutout decision, Ali would have too much skill and be too much for him. If this was the 1976-1978 version of Ali, then Page might upset him.

I saw Muhammad Ali fight Greg Page in a 3 round exhibition at Trinity High School in Louisville, KY in 1976 at age 7. Fourth row ringside. Most people don't know about this fight. It certainly wasn't a serious fight, with my memory including Ali doing the shuffle most of the time, but most boxers do not come close to the 1967 Ali-Clay (perhaps no boxer) ... certainly not Greg Page.

Greg Page deserves a high spot in the over-rated heavyweights thread.


Lot's of chatter about him on internet forums but even his #1 fanboi the late Brockton69 always had to precede each extravagent claim with "if only he had..."

I think Page is one of those guys who had gifts and talent, but never realised or stayed motivated to attain any greatness.

I think Ali would beat him, and is by far superior. though I think stylistically Ali would find him awkward and of course vice versa.

I am not making a case of Page to be considered an all time great.

Thanks again guys

Kym

Robinson wrote:I think Page is one of those guys who had gifts and talent, but never realised or stayed motivated to attain any greatness.

I think Ali would beat him, and is by far superior. though I think stylistically Ali would find him awkward and of course vice versa.

I am not making a case of Page to be considered an all time great.

Thanks again guys

Kym

My feelings exactly.Plus, I'm of the opinion that Page's father kinda forced him into the sport. If it was up to Greg, he probably would've went into basketball, which may have accounted for his motivation.

hmm not so sure about that certainly never been mentioned in the many emails Ive had speaking with Greg and Pat. If anythign he cites the fact his father and brother boxed as a motivation to get into the sport.

FROM PAT PAGE.

Greg Page burst on the scene in Louisville, KY at the ripe old age of 12. He was following in the footsteps of an older brother, Dennis. The Page family spawned several boxers, William, Asia, Albert (father to Dennis and Greg). He rose up fast in the amateur ranks, (fighting 110 amateur fights) state fairs, Silver Gloves, Golden Gloves and was even named Outstanding Boxer of the Year . He was often compared to Muhammad Ali. They expected mighty things from this youngster. Then the decision was made for him to turn pro. The US boycotted the Olympics so the decision turned out to be one of some merit.

He signed with Butch Lewis and started up thru the heavyweight ranks. Then his father, and manager of his career became ill and in the midst of this, a decision that Greg would fight for Don King, the contract was signed and the road to controversy was begun. After a long litigated battle Between Page, Butch Lewis and Don King, Page's career continued. Some say that Page was the only loser in that battle.

Page went on to become the USBA heavyweight champion on February 11th, 1980. He held that title until August 31st, 1984 when he lost it to David Bey. In December 1984, Page went to South Africa and defeated Gerrie Coetzee to become the WBA heavyweight champion. He lost that title a few months later to Tony Tubbs. Greg would finish with a professional career of 58 (48 KOs)-17-1.

His career would go on to have its ups and downs. He continued to fight and even trained fighters including 4 time title holder Marischa Sjauw (who now lives in Germany) and Oliver McCall.

On March 9th, 2001, in a bid to again hold the heavyweight title, Greg fought a young up-and-comer, Dale Crowe in a Ky Athletic Commission sanctioned fight, in Erlanger, Ky. However, a fight that Greg predicted would be over in a few rounds, went the distance with Greg being knocked down and out in the last seconds. Greg never recovered from this. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and slipped into a coma. There was no ambulance ringside, no oxygen, the "Ringside Physician" was not licensed to practice in the state, and was on probation in Ohio where he was licensed to practice. The MD had no medical malpractice insurance. The promoter did not have insurance. He eventually was taken to the hospital where continued the fight to simply live. To date, he struggles each day to maintain some quality of life. He is paralyzed on his left side and has severe cognitive and memory deficits.

Today, July 7th, after much lobbying and the establishment of a new authority, the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority (replacing the Kentucky Athletic Commission*in charge the night that Greg was critically injured) new regulations finally go on the books in the State of Ky. These regulations will among other things, make an ambulance, EMT's and resuscitation equipment mandatory at all state sanctioned boxing matches. Additionally, these new regulations will require HIV and Hepatitis testing, as well as the establishment of a medial review board to advise the KWBA on medical matters. These new regulations will bring the State of Ky more in line with federal regulations. While these regulations will not help the state of affairs for Greg Page, it may prevent another boxer from suffering the same fate in then future. The legacy of Greg Page MAY NOT be for his efforts in the boxing ring but in the challenge to improve boxer safety throughout. However, if these efforts make a difference for even one person, well we are okay with that!! Written by Patricia Page

granberry just PM'd me and explains in great detail of the 1st round KO that Ali would suffer due to his lack of having any real boxing skills.

Broke my heart to read the truth but as we all know granberry has a lock on the reality of this.....so there is little more to add to this discussion. It is certainly settled.......correct? If I were you I wouldn't make yourself out to look foolish postulating or defending an Ali victory here.

J wrote:hmm not so sure about that certainly never been mentioned in the many emails Ive had speaking with Greg and Pat. If anythign he cites the fact his father and brother boxed as a motivation to get into the sport.

FROM PAT PAGE.

Greg Page burst on the scene in Louisville, KY at the ripe old age of 12. He was following in the footsteps of an older brother, Dennis. The Page family spawned several boxers, William, Asia, Albert (father to Dennis and Greg). He rose up fast in the amateur ranks, (fighting 110 amateur fights) state fairs, Silver Gloves, Golden Gloves and was even named Outstanding Boxer of the Year . He was often compared to Muhammad Ali. They expected mighty things from this youngster. Then the decision was made for him to turn pro. The US boycotted the Olympics so the decision turned out to be one of some merit.

He signed with Butch Lewis and started up thru the heavyweight ranks. Then his father, and manager of his career became ill and in the midst of this, a decision that Greg would fight for Don King, the contract was signed and the road to controversy was begun. After a long litigated battle Between Page, Butch Lewis and Don King, Page's career continued. Some say that Page was the only loser in that battle.

Page went on to become the USBA heavyweight champion on February 11th, 1980. He held that title until August 31st, 1984 when he lost it to David Bey. In December 1984, Page went to South Africa and defeated Gerrie Coetzee to become the WBA heavyweight champion. He lost that title a few months later to Tony Tubbs. Greg would finish with a professional career of 58 (48 KOs)-17-1.

His career would go on to have its ups and downs. He continued to fight and even trained fighters including 4 time title holder Marischa Sjauw (who now lives in Germany) and Oliver McCall.

On March 9th, 2001, in a bid to again hold the heavyweight title, Greg fought a young up-and-comer, Dale Crowe in a Ky Athletic Commission sanctioned fight, in Erlanger, Ky. However, a fight that Greg predicted would be over in a few rounds, went the distance with Greg being knocked down and out in the last seconds. Greg never recovered from this. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and slipped into a coma. There was no ambulance ringside, no oxygen, the "Ringside Physician" was not licensed to practice in the state, and was on probation in Ohio where he was licensed to practice. The MD had no medical malpractice insurance. The promoter did not have insurance. He eventually was taken to the hospital where continued the fight to simply live. To date, he struggles each day to maintain some quality of life. He is paralyzed on his left side and has severe cognitive and memory deficits.

Today, July 7th, after much lobbying and the establishment of a new authority, the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority (replacing the Kentucky Athletic Commission*in charge the night that Greg was critically injured) new regulations finally go on the books in the State of Ky. These regulations will among other things, make an ambulance, EMT's and resuscitation equipment mandatory at all state sanctioned boxing matches. Additionally, these new regulations will require HIV and Hepatitis testing, as well as the establishment of a medial review board to advise the KWBA on medical matters. These new regulations will bring the State of Ky more in line with federal regulations. While these regulations will not help the state of affairs for Greg Page, it may prevent another boxer from suffering the same fate in then future. The legacy of Greg Page MAY NOT be for his efforts in the boxing ring but in the challenge to improve boxer safety throughout. However, if these efforts make a difference for even one person, well we are okay with that!! Written by Patricia Page

Could be, but here's an excerpt from an article the Louisville Courier-Journal did on Greg a few years back.


"Among all those male Pages, boxing was congenital.

Albert and two of his brothers — William and Asia — fought as amateurs, during what is often romanticized today as a golden era of boxing in Louisville in the mid-1900s. William and Asia fought Ali when he was still Cassius Clay, and Albert and former heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis were good friends, Greg Page said.

Albert Page broke out the gloves when his boys misbehaved. "We were bad, we had to box each other," Greg Page said.

Alice Page said she was against those fraternal bouts. In fact, she said, "I hate boxing. It's too brutal."

Asked to describe her late husband — a 6-foot-1½-inch man who worked for more than a decade at the Charlestown (Ind.) Army Ammunition Plant, and later as a Transit Authority of River City bus driver, smoking his unfiltered Pall Malls down to a nub — Alice Page said:

"He was quite stern. He didn't want his boys into any trouble. He wanted them to be respectful. He wanted to keep them out of danger."

When it came time for the young athlete to select a sport to cultivate, Albert Page gave Greg two choices, he remembered, "Boxing, or boxing."

But it was basketball, not boxing, that was Greg Page's first love. In Beecher Terrace, where the family lived for 17 years, Page was a regular on the basketball court.

By age 16, he had grown to more than 6 feet tall, Page recalls today.

His hands, once lightning fast inside a pair of boxing gloves, even today look to have been engineered for the sole purpose of palming a basketball."

fair play thats interesting thanks

jsbruzina wrote:I saw Muhammad Ali fight Greg Page in a 3 round exhibition at Trinity High School in Louisville, KY in 1976 at age 7. Fourth row ringside. Most people don't know about this fight. It certainly wasn't a serious fight, with my memory including Ali doing the shuffle most of the time, but most boxers do not come close to the 1967 Ali-Clay (perhaps no boxer) ... certainly not Greg Page.

I was at Trinity High School that night, with my 7th grade cheerleading squad. Some parent dropped us all there so some other parent could pick us up. We were bouncing around by the back doors of the gym, rather disengaged from the event inside, and all the sudden the back doors opened. The door hit me, and when I looked up, there was Ali, surrounded by his peeps. We were both startled. I said, "Excuse me, Mr. Ali." And he paused a minute and just started laughing and shook all of our hands and had a great time with it. I remember his hands being huge compared to mine; my hand was swallowed up whole in his handshake.

The Ali of the 60's no man that ever walked this planet would beat that Ali

This was a funny thread, even in it's time.

I think of Page and Dokes as similar when I think of "opportunities lost" talented guys that fell short of what they could have done..... and As I recall, even an aging Ali made a young Dokes look pretty silly when Dokes had him in the corner, and Dokes machined gunned some punches, and Ali dropped his hands, and managed to avoid all of Dokes shots.

This was in an exhibition as I recall.

Page is the 3rd best heavyweight of all time.... from Louisville, Kentucky. (No disrespect meant to Marvin Hart who is #4.)

Page would win 2 or 3 rounds.
Mainly because Ali would coast in a few rounds.

Page had skill but was so inconsistent.