Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown)

Il Duce · 03-04-2011, 03:29 PM

May 1979

Muhammad Ali sells the WBA Heavyweight Crown to Bob Arum for $400,000.

Instead of defending his WBA Heavyweight Championship, Muhammad Ali
sold his Crown to Bob Arum for $400,000.

Unable to secure a Heavyweight Championship fight in Argentina
with Mike Rossman for $6,000,000, in early 1979, the 3-time heavyweight champion decided to vacate the WBA Title.

Argentina businessman, Juan Pastor, tried another venue, by offering
Muhammad Ali $4,000,000 to fight Victor Galindez. The proposed bout
was scheduled for this summer.

Victor Galindez, of Argentina, recently regained his WBA Light Heavyweight Championship, by
defeating Mike Rossman in April 1979. Galindez, a hero in his country, wants to fight Muhammad Ali
in July or August. Galindez said he planned to come in at 180 lbs., and would out-speed the old and slow
champion. Galindez has been offered $1,000,000 for his share in the bout.

Muhammad Ali, who wanted $6,000,000 to fight Rossman, may have to re-adjust his demands.
Ali stated, 'Even if I don't have the WBA Crown, we can still fight for the Southern Hemisphere
Heavyweight Championship.'

Addie · 03-04-2011, 03:31 PM

Cheers brah.

Unforgiven · 03-04-2011, 03:40 PM

Arum was quick to get on the WBA title tournament back in 1967 too.

Bob Arum (and some other white guy) was the legal part of the Ali promotional team that featured Jim Brown etc. formed in 1966 (I forget the name of the company).

You can add Arum's name to that of Don King as promoters who got their way into the sport very quickly via being attached to champion Muhammad Ali.

Arum was an unknown in 1966, and got onboard the Ali train then as a minor player, a young attorney. But when Ali was stripped in 1967, I believe Arum was instrumental in quickly setting up the made-for-TV tournament to decide a new WBA champion.

ThinBlack · 03-05-2011, 03:52 PM

They should have matched up Leon Spinks and John Tate for the title.

Il Duce · 03-05-2011, 05:03 PM

The South African contingent wanted that WBA Heavyweight Championship in
the worst way.
They had Kallie Knoetzee and Gerrie Coetzee all lined up in 1979.
John Tate ruined the party.

If either of them had won the title, Muhammad Ali would have been over their
in a 'FLASH' for $8,000,000.

janitor · 03-05-2011, 05:17 PM

If I owned the WBA title I would not sell it because I would feel bad for taking sombodys money.

I might put it in the village raffle.

Il Duce · 03-05-2011, 09:00 PM

I'm getting the feeling Muhammad Ali was 'For Sale' in 1979 thru 1982.

Giving up the WBA crown,,,,but selling it on the cheap for $400,000.
When he knew that he would come back if Knoetzee or Coetzee won the title,
for a cool sum of $8,000,000 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Of course Ali would have twisted it, as some righteous move for bettering race relations.

Senor Pepe' · 11-03-2012, 12:55 PM

Muhammad Ali may have been the 'only' Heavyweight Champion to sell his Championship Belt.

James J. Jeffries retired, and then came back to challenge Jack Johnson.

Joe Louis, quietly walked away, and then tried to regain it legitimately versus Ezzard Charles.

Rocky Marciano retired, and did not sell it.

03-04-2011, 03:29 PM	#1
Il Duce Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 3,486 vCash: 500	Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown) May 1979 Muhammad Ali sells the WBA Heavyweight Crown to Bob Arum for $400,000. Instead of defending his WBA Heavyweight Championship, Muhammad Ali sold his Crown to Bob Arum for $400,000. Unable to secure a Heavyweight Championship fight in Argentina with Mike Rossman for $6,000,000, in early 1979, the 3-time heavyweight champion decided to vacate the WBA Title. Argentina businessman, Juan Pastor, tried another venue, by offering Muhammad Ali $4,000,000 to fight Victor Galindez. The proposed bout was scheduled for this summer. Victor Galindez, of Argentina, recently regained his WBA Light Heavyweight Championship, by defeating Mike Rossman in April 1979. Galindez, a hero in his country, wants to fight Muhammad Ali in July or August. Galindez said he planned to come in at 180 lbs., and would out-speed the old and slow champion. Galindez has been offered $1,000,000 for his share in the bout. Muhammad Ali, who wanted $6,000,000 to fight Rossman, may have to re-adjust his demands. Ali stated, 'Even if I don't have the WBA Crown, we can still fight for the Southern Hemisphere Heavyweight Championship.'
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03-04-2011, 03:31 PM	#2
Addie MAB. East Side VIP Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UK, England Posts: 21,013 vCash: 842	Re: Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown) Cheers brah.
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03-04-2011, 03:40 PM	#3
Unforgiven Undisputed Champion East Side VIP Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 10,720 vCash: 1000	Re: Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown) Arum was quick to get on the WBA title tournament back in 1967 too. Bob Arum (and some other white guy) was the legal part of the Ali promotional team that featured Jim Brown etc. formed in 1966 (I forget the name of the company). You can add Arum's name to that of Don King as promoters who got their way into the sport very quickly via being attached to champion Muhammad Ali. Arum was an unknown in 1966, and got onboard the Ali train then as a minor player, a young attorney. But when Ali was stripped in 1967, I believe Arum was instrumental in quickly setting up the made-for-TV tournament to decide a new WBA champion.
Top

03-05-2011, 03:52 PM	#4
ThinBlack Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,413 vCash: 1000	Re: Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown) They should have matched up Leon Spinks and John Tate for the title.
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03-05-2011, 05:03 PM	#5
Il Duce Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 3,486 vCash: 500	Re: Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown) The South African contingent wanted that WBA Heavyweight Championship in the worst way. They had Kallie Knoetzee and Gerrie Coetzee all lined up in 1979. John Tate ruined the party. If either of them had won the title, Muhammad Ali would have been over their in a 'FLASH' for $8,000,000.
Top

03-05-2011, 05:17 PM	#6
janitor P4P King East Side VIP Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 19,147 vCash: 1000	Re: Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown) If I owned the WBA title I would not sell it because I would feel bad for taking sombodys money. I might put it in the village raffle.
Top

03-05-2011, 09:00 PM	#7
Il Duce Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 3,486 vCash: 500	Re: Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown) I'm getting the feeling Muhammad Ali was 'For Sale' in 1979 thru 1982. Giving up the WBA crown,,,,but selling it on the cheap for $400,000. When he knew that he would come back if Knoetzee or Coetzee won the title, for a cool sum of $8,000,000 in Pretoria, South Africa. Of course Ali would have twisted it, as some righteous move for bettering race relations.
Top

11-03-2012, 12:55 PM	#8
Senor Pepe' Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 4,710 vCash: 500	Re: Muhammad Ali (Sells the WBA Crown) Muhammad Ali may have been the 'only' Heavyweight Champion to sell his Championship Belt. James J. Jeffries retired, and then came back to challenge Jack Johnson. Joe Louis, quietly walked away, and then tried to regain it legitimately versus Ezzard Charles. Rocky Marciano retired, and did not sell it.
Top