Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Young
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| Org. | Pos. | As of | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1+ Mth. Old | |||
| WBA | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| WBC | 5 | ~31.01.1976 | by 07.02.1976 |
| Ring | 3 | ~31.01.1976 | 06.02.1976 |
| 2+ Mth. Old | |||
| WBA | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| WBC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ring | 2 | 15.10.1975 | 12.10-06.11.1975 |
| 3+ Mth. Old | |||
| WBA | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| WBC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ring | 2 | 15.10.1975 | 12.10-06.11.1975 |
Muhammad Ali 230 lbs beat Jimmy Young 209 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15
- Date: 1976-04-30
- Location: Capitol Center, Landover, Maryland, USA
- Referee: Tom Kelly 72-65
- Judge: Larry Barrett 70-68
- Judge: Terry Moore 71-64
- World Boxing Council World Heavyweight Title (6th defense by Ali)
- World Boxing Association World Heavyweight Title (6th defense by Ali)
- Promoter: Don King (Don King Productions)
- Ring Announcer: Marvin Brooks
- Aired On: ABC Wide World of Sports (Main Event)
Notes
Timeline
- On January 7, it was announced that Young would face Jose Roman on the undercard of Muhammad Ali vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman on February 20. Roman said that the winner would face Ali next.[1]
- On January 29, Ali's promoter Don King confirmed that Ali's next title defense after Jean-Pierre Coopman would take place in April, with San Jose, Costa Rica being the desired location. Although he didn't name any names, boxing inside sources were already speculating on Young.[2]
- During an open training session on February 17, Ali pointed at Young and shouted "You're next!". Later, Young's manager Bob Brown confirmed that negotiations were underway.[3]
- On February 21, Don King confirmed that Ali's next defense would be against Young in April and reiterated his intention to have the fight in Costa Rica.[4] Finally, Ali himself confirmed these plans the next day.[5]
- On February 27, Don King stated that Ali had changed his plans and wanted to face Young in his hometown Louisville, Kentucky on April 30, the day before the Kentucky Derby: "Hank Schwartz told me you said that at derby time all the people in Louisville thought about was horses. That's why I went the other direction - to Costa Rica. Muhammad wants to fight in Louisville. And ABC like the big arena here. We could put Muhammad there and really be sensational."[6]
- On March 10, promoter William H. King reported that all obstacles but one were cleared for a fight in Louisville on April 30. The only issue was that the arena, Freedom Hall, had already been leased by the Derby Festival Committee for an Allman Brothers concert that day.[7]
- Bout formally announced on March 11 by the chairman of the board of the Capital Centre arena Abe Polin.[8]
Ranking Movements
- Young ranked fourth in the January 1976 issue of Ring Magazine released by November 9, moved up two spots in the February 1976 issue. By the time of the Ali fight, Young exchanged places with third-ranked George Foreman.
- Information about the WBC and especially WBA rankings between November 1975 and February 1976 is largely unavailable.
- In the January rankings announced by the WBC in early February, Young was ranked fifth, where he remained going into the Ali fight.
The Fight
- Ali was paid $1.6 million, plus $200,000 for training expenses. Young earned a total of $85,000.
- The Associated Press reported: "Ali seemed content to toy in the first four rounds, doing very little fighting. He then began coming on in the fifth round and started landing with power, although he still missed much more than he usually does. Ali's best round seemed to be the ninth, when he went up on his toes and snapped home at least 25 punishing jabs to Young's face. But then he went flatfooted again and, while landing some good rights, he was the target of several hard rights in the final three rounds when Young came on strong. It was the only time in the fight that Young was the actual aggressor and that lack of aggressiveness early on cost him dearly."
- On six occasions, Young ducked outside of the ropes when he was pressured by Ali. He did it in the seventh round, the eighth, the 12th, twice in the 13th, and once more in the 15th. When he did it in the 12th round, the referee ruled it a knockdown and began to count. Young pulled his head back into the ring at the count of two. Mark Kram of Sports Illustrated wrote: "It was unconscionable behavior for a man who wants the heavyweight championship of the world."
- The decision was loudly booed by the crowd. Mark Kram wrote: "There was no way anyone could justify taking the title from Ali."
The Fight
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jabs | Ali | Young |
| Landed | 27 | 65 |
| Thrown | 234 | 443 |
| Percent | 11.5% | 14.7% |
| Power Punches | Ali | Young |
| Landed | 86 | 157 |
| Thrown | 360 | 309 |
| Percent | 23.9% | 50.8% |
| Total Punches | Ali | Young |
| Landed | 113 | 222 |
| Thrown | 594 | 752 |
| Percent | 19% | 29.5% |
- The Associated Press scored the fight 69-66 for Young.
- No. 1-ranked heavyweight contender Ken Norton scored a fifth-round TKO against Ron Stander on the undercard.
- Young landed 222 punches to Ali's 113. Young outlanded Ali 65-27 in jabs and 157-86 in power punches. The punch disparity highlighted the booing at the judges' decisions:<Ref>Bob Cannobio and Lee Groves, "Muhammad Ali: By The Numbers", 2018. See 30:37.</ref>
- In the first round, Ali threw a total of 5 punches to Young's 74, and landed 0 punches to Young's 18. Two of the three judges scored the round even.<Ref>Bob Cannobio and Lee Groves, "Muhammad Ali: By The Numbers", 2018. See 30:57.</ref>
- In the third round, Young threw 78 punches to Ali's 26, and landed 21 punches to Ali's 7. Two judges scored this round for Ali, and the third scored it even.<Ref>Bob Cannobio and Lee Groves, "Muhammad Ali: By The Numbers", 2018. See 31:22.</ref>
- Despite these and other disparities, Ali was scored as the winner of all ten rounds going into the eleventh by one of the judges, and winner of all but one of the ten rounds by the other two.<Ref>Bob Cannobio and Lee Groves, "Muhammad Ali: By The Numbers", 2018. See 31:42.</ref>
- According to CompuBox, Young outlanded Ali in all rounds but fourth and twelfth. In rounds 4, 12 and 13, difference in total punches landed was 1. Young also landed more power punches in eleven rounds out of fifteen.[9]
- Young ducked out of the ring on 6 occasions to avoid punishment. In the twelfth, the referee had enough of it and started a count for Young.
Post-Fight Quotes
- "I weigh 230 pounds, just what I weigh when I'm in terrible shape. I'm 34 and I'm telling you what I did was a miracle, going 15 rounds and beating that young man. I've been eating too much pie, too much ice cream. You wouldn't believe the things I do in training." - Muhammad Ali.
- "The reason I kept ducking through the ropes, seriously, was to take some of the pressure off me." - Jimmy Young.
- "He looked pitiful. I kept hollering up to him, 'Don't blow the money, Ali, don't blow the money, damn it!' But the Ali you saw tonight is not the guy I have to fight. I wish it was, but it won't be. He'll be ready for me. You can count on it." - Ken Norton.
Articles
- "Ali retains title with left jab" AP, May 1, 1976
- "Young 'ducks' away from title" UPI, May 1, 1976
- "The Champ Looked Like A Chump" By Mark Kram, Sports Illustrated, May 10, 1976
| Preceded by: Ali vs. Coopman |
WBA Heavyweight Title Fight # 25 |
Succeeded by: Ali vs. Dunn |
| Preceded by: Ali vs. Coopman |
WBC Heavyweight Title Fight # 26 |
Succeeded by: Ali vs. Dunn |