How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot?

tezel8764 · 12-10-2012, 08:26 PM

Just going through his career set, some of the body shots he's taken make me flinch. How come?

pablo1 · 12-10-2012, 08:31 PM

He took bodyshots like nobody in the HW division.
I once read that Norton said in an interview that when he hit Ali he felt like punching concrete.
Muhammad not only had an ATG jaw but an iron body.

12-10-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tezel8764

Just going through his career set, some of the body shots he's taken make me flinch. How come?

Ali's punch resistance was a much underrated part of his makeup. Both to head and bodyshots. Take a look at some of the flush headshots he took and fought on, often seemingly unaffected.

apollack · 12-10-2012, 09:34 PM

He was plain tough, could take it, was in great shape, very experienced, had a great defense, and knew how to clinch, block, and roll with punches. Just a special fighter. They don't call him the greatest for nothing.

big_AL · 12-10-2012, 09:48 PM

well chuck wepner did knock him down with one, although its highly disputed, kinda like the whole leonard-eklund debacle

but yeah he was as tough as any hw in history so some people just have it i guess

ecto55 · 12-11-2012, 02:15 AM

How?

A mixture of the brutal conditioning that Luis Sarria would put Ali through, Ali's penchant to 'practice' absorbing punishment to his body in camp (especially in the later career stages) and his enormous (if not unmatched among Hvy champions) willpower and determination.

I have no doubt that some of the lesser Hvy champions, let alone many lesser Hvy fighters, would allow themselves to be hurt and crumble when exposed to the body attacks that Ali absorbed- Ali's will just would not yeild to the pain an opponent inflicted on him. Some of Ali's expressions when hurt to the body are amazing- his determination not to 'give' is just written on his face...must have been some realization for his opponents!

mcvey · 12-11-2012, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tezel8764

Just going through his career set, some of the body shots he's taken make me flinch. How come?

He's one tough SOB?

MadcapMaxie · 12-11-2012, 04:40 AM

He took some hellacious shots for sure, he conditioned his body alot throughout his career with alot of ab exercises, medicine ball throws to the body and allowing his sparring partners to wail away on his midsection. Theres one clip I've seen back when he was still Clay where his letting someone throw a medicine ball full force into his body while he's just screaming "HARDER!" so even when he was younger he had an iron tummy.

Added to this his extreme toughness, mental strength and probably the most underrated aspects his ability to roll with and block punches. He was also a great at not exhibiting emotion even if he was hurt. The most hurt I've seen him from a body shot would be the 3rd Norton fight where after taking a left hook to the body he crouches over in pain, happened somewhere around 5-6th round.

Stevie G · 12-11-2012, 07:47 AM

As has been said,Ali was tough as hell. One of the toughest ever.

knockout artist · 12-11-2012, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tezel8764

Just going through his career set, some of the body shots he's taken make me flinch. How come?

Iron bodies exist in boxing

Ali used to let his sparring partners beat him up day after day, I think this contributed to his toughness and ability to absorb punishment in real fights.

dyna · 12-11-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knockout artist

Iron bodies exist in boxing

Ali used to let his sparring partners beat him up day after day, I think this contributed to his toughness and ability to absorb punishment in real fights.

Probably because the body got so much harm that it simply stopped giving the signals that "it's over"
After a while it doesn't hurt anymore...

Colonel Sanders · 12-11-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knockout artist

Iron bodies exist in boxing

Ali used to let his sparring partners beat him up day after day, I think this contributed to his toughness and ability to absorb punishment in real fights.

funny formulation

12-11-2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevie G

As has been said,Ali was tough as hell. One of the toughest ever.

PetethePrince · 12-12-2012, 01:13 AM

Tough SOB. Accustomed to taking shots in sparring, and just plain insanely durable. Perhaps more durable to the body than any other fighter we can witness on film.

Chaney · 12-12-2012, 01:05 PM

George Foreman says that one of of his clearest recollections of the fight in Zaire is hitting Ali with a massive body blow that would have finished most fighters. Foreman said he could see that it hurt Ali, and Ali winced...but only for a second, then he just scowled at George as if to say "That the best you got?"

Pretty dispiriting, I'd imagine...especially after flattening Frazier and Norton with ease. Ali's refusal to be hurt or intimidated by Foreman played a key part in Ali getting the win.

12-10-2012, 08:26 PM	#1
tezel8764 Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,947 vCash: 527	How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? Just going through his career set, some of the body shots he's taken make me flinch. How come?
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12-10-2012, 08:31 PM	#2
pablo1 newbie Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 13 vCash: 500	Re: How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? He took bodyshots like nobody in the HW division. I once read that Norton said in an interview that when he hit Ali he felt like punching concrete. Muhammad not only had an ATG jaw but an iron body.
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12-10-2012, 09:34 PM	#4
apollack Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,401 vCash: 1000	Re: How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? He was plain tough, could take it, was in great shape, very experienced, had a great defense, and knew how to clinch, block, and roll with punches. Just a special fighter. They don't call him the greatest for nothing.
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12-10-2012, 09:48 PM	#5
big_AL P4P #1 ESB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Meath Posts: 1,035 vCash: 825	Re: How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? well chuck wepner did knock him down with one, although its highly disputed, kinda like the whole leonard-eklund debacle but yeah he was as tough as any hw in history so some people just have it i guess
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12-11-2012, 02:15 AM	#6
ecto55 Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: a little sun-drenched vinyard 3 hours north by nor-west of Sydney, NSW, Australia... Posts: 599 vCash: 1000	Re: How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? How? A mixture of the brutal conditioning that Luis Sarria would put Ali through, Ali's penchant to 'practice' absorbing punishment to his body in camp (especially in the later career stages) and his enormous (if not unmatched among Hvy champions) willpower and determination. I have no doubt that some of the lesser Hvy champions, let alone many lesser Hvy fighters, would allow themselves to be hurt and crumble when exposed to the body attacks that Ali absorbed- Ali's will just would not yeild to the pain an opponent inflicted on him. Some of Ali's expressions when hurt to the body are amazing- his determination not to 'give' is just written on his face...must have been some realization for his opponents!
Top

12-11-2012, 04:40 AM	#8
MadcapMaxie Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,412 vCash: 500	Re: How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? He took some hellacious shots for sure, he conditioned his body alot throughout his career with alot of ab exercises, medicine ball throws to the body and allowing his sparring partners to wail away on his midsection. Theres one clip I've seen back when he was still Clay where his letting someone throw a medicine ball full force into his body while he's just screaming "HARDER!" so even when he was younger he had an iron tummy. Added to this his extreme toughness, mental strength and probably the most underrated aspects his ability to roll with and block punches. He was also a great at not exhibiting emotion even if he was hurt. The most hurt I've seen him from a body shot would be the 3rd Norton fight where after taking a left hook to the body he crouches over in pain, happened somewhere around 5-6th round.
Top

12-11-2012, 07:47 AM	#9
Stevie G Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London,England Posts: 8,396 vCash: 1000	Re: How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? As has been said,Ali was tough as hell. One of the toughest ever.
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12-12-2012, 01:13 AM	#14
PetethePrince Slick & Redheaded East Side VIP Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 14,393 vCash: 1200	Re: How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? Tough SOB. Accustomed to taking shots in sparring, and just plain insanely durable. Perhaps more durable to the body than any other fighter we can witness on film.
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12-12-2012, 01:05 PM	#15
Chaney Mystery and Imagination ESB Jr Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Starving in the belly of a whale Posts: 258 vCash: 1000	Re: How Come Ali Has Never Been TKO'd from a Bodyshot? George Foreman says that one of of his clearest recollections of the fight in Zaire is hitting Ali with a massive body blow that would have finished most fighters. Foreman said he could see that it hurt Ali, and Ali winced...but only for a second, then he just scowled at George as if to say "That the best you got?" Pretty dispiriting, I'd imagine...especially after flattening Frazier and Norton with ease. Ali's refusal to be hurt or intimidated by Foreman played a key part in Ali getting the win.
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