Why was Ali thrown in with Holmes?

i wasnt there then but i would say that ali was very vocally active in his later years still. and would call out all the champion. it isnt like now where you say i want to fight such and such a person during an interview. back then it was a challenge and an insult almost.
and he called out holmes. in th eend it was a passing of the torch but what can you say, holmes passed it on to tyson and beat some fairley decent contenders in his later years.

 

Money!!!

 

Beat me to it.

 

Ali had retired, but no one was recognized as champ, when Ali came back with (Murad) Muhammad he was always going to fight a King fighter, thus Holmes was the best option.

It may sound silly for those not around at the time, but in quite a few peoples eyes this was no mismatch and many felt Ali had another great performance in him...

Ali comeback rumours were still going as late as 86; where Ali was helping Whitherspoon prepare for his fight against Bruno, and Ali was seen doing roadwork with Tim....

I know that sounds silly... but yes, Whitherspoon actually has been known to do roadwork!:shock:

 

Ali came back to beat Spinks and such was the "legend" many many people thought he would also beat Holmes and perform yet another miracle. At the time little was thought beyond him as he had beat the odds many times before. People were also very reticent to show Holmes any respect as a fighter. It turned out nobody can beat father time and hindsight makes the match look silly.

 

86'...

Wow.

Any idea who he sparred with in the mid' 80's if anyone?

His last exhibition matches?

 

His last public exhibition that I know of was a five round show in Chicago against Scott LeDoux on December 2nd 1977.

The rumours in 86 were there because everyone knew Ali was in trouble money wise hence the reason King brought Ali in to join Whitherspoon's entourage.

The reality was Ali admitted to having Parkinson's in 84, thus no proper commission would of given Ali a licence, and where he could of fought, probably would not of made the money Ali would expect.

 

wow thanks man i did not know this!

 

Damm! That's a shame. After all the money Ali made in his career, he was having money troubles by the mid 80's. And even the thought of Ali fighting again at that time was absurd.

 

Money was the main reason I belive.

The Spinks fights did more harm than good I suppose for Ali. It help Ali's legend into God like as a 3 time world champ, EVEN though it was against a 7-0 fighter. And it made Spinks for a time, view as a great fighter because of a win over Ali. Spinks finally caught a shot Ali at the right time, and was high in the rematch. I pretty sure Holmes would have repeated the 80 bout feat in pretty much the same way had the bout taking place in 1978. The show was almost over for Ali of couse. It happens, but a legend gets out of hand at some times. I mean there are still people around thinking only if Tyson gets in shape, and he will rule the division.

 

correct i heard he made as much as holmes did for that fight,he wasn't throwen into it at all

 

no he actually did exhibitions up to 1986...his last public one was in 1983 against that hockey player dave semenko i think thats how you spell his name..the witherspoon one was prolly the last of any exhbitions he did

 

Money.8 plus million dollars, though, dealing with King, unfortunately, he didn't get it all.

 

I was there. My cadre of boxing buddies knew he had NO chance but, surprisingly the public (and Vegas) gave him short odds against Larry.
I remember the 1st round: Holmes rushed out and flurried Ali big time to show him he had no business in the ring with him. Larry didn't disrespect Muhammad tho, he was just taking care of business.
Next thread.