Ali triumphs to become HW Champion 3 times as an underdog. How did he do it?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014.


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  1. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    All 3 times that Ali became champ he comes into all 3 fights as an underdog.

    Vs Liston somewhere around 40 to 1

    Vs Foreman 49 to 1 ( Even bigger odds than Tyson Vs Buster)

    Vs Spinks somewhere close to 5 or 10 to 1 odds

    Sports writer nor the public gave Ali a chance to win in probably his 3 biggest wins of his careers. Defeating the odds.

    So how did he do it?
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    #1
  2. jowcol

    jowcol Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Greetings southpaw!
    I'll let some others comment but, with all due respect, your odds mentioned are unquestionably and completely off the planet ridiculously wrong!
    I believe Clay was a 7-1 dog against Liston in Feb of 64. And the odds would have been along the lines of 4 or 5 to 1 had Cooper not dropped him at Wembley Pool eight months earlier.
    I believe he was a 4-1 or 5-1 dog against George at Zaire.
    Spinks? Don't get me started on that one. Ali may have even been favored in the rematch which supports my (I could be wrong) theory that he tanked the first fight with Leon knowing full well that the young 7-0-1 greenie would give him an immediate rematch for (big surprise) MONEY thus allowing him to become the first "3 time champ"
    IMO Ali was toying with the public at that time.
    Patterson's effort against Ellis in 68 was Far more impressive than Ali's "reclaiming" the title against young Leon.
    My $0.02. Feel free to disagree.
     
    jowcol, Jan 14, 2014
    jowcol, Jan 14, 2014
    #2
  3. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I don't remember him being an underdog for the Spinks fight.
     
    AlFrancis, Jan 14, 2014
    AlFrancis, Jan 14, 2014
    #3
  4. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    For the second Spinks fight yes! Challenger vs Champion..And Ali had already lost to Spinks right before that.
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    #4
  5. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    Im not gonna disagree with you at all. Every site or search engine I went to the odds were different. I only came across a few where the odds were in the single digits ( 7-0 or 7-1 like you express) But most of them were pretty high. Even saw a few that had Tyson a 41 to 1 comin into his fight with Buster. So I figured the right thing to do was go with the higher odds it sounds like I may have chosen poorly. But I really wanna know what people think about these fights and how Ali did it. If the odds are off oh well fight fans will know what I meant.:good
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    #5
  6. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I thought at the time the time the first fight was a fluke, Ali clearly wasn't in shape. I didn't think he looked that good in the second fight to be honest.
     
    AlFrancis, Jan 14, 2014
    AlFrancis, Jan 14, 2014
    #6
  7. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    He didnt look GREAT, but he looked way better than he did in the first fight. Good enough to beat Spinks.Whats disturbing is the pre fight interview With Ali and Cossel. Ali is showing signs of his illness because hes talkin so slow and so quiet. Howard even says to Ali "You sound tired Champ" and Ali says no im not tired im just in great shape and I WILL beat Spinks. You can clearly tell that he just isnt right anymore!
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    #7
  8. Vince Voltage

    Vince Voltage Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I will believe Foreman was only 3 to 1 over Ali.
     
    Vince Voltage, Jan 14, 2014
    Vince Voltage, Jan 14, 2014
    #8
  9. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

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    Those initial odds look off. Way off.
     
    Rock0052, Jan 14, 2014
    Rock0052, Jan 14, 2014
    #9
  10. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    Not even close! NOBODY was giving Ali a chance in hell to win that fight..3 to 1 is saying he had a chance if you were betting even an hour before the fight.
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    #10
  11. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    I thought the same Rock! Look them up youll see how much they vary, But the actual Vegas odds really were that high all the way up to the day of the fight they were still rising. I know its insanity!
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    #11
  12. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    And its not just the Vegas odds I was lookin at. most of the sports writers including The Rings odds were all staggering.
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    #12
  13. C.J.

    C.J. Boxings Living Legend revered & respected by all Full Member

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    Remember Ali told ya'll Never bet against me
     
    C.J., Jan 14, 2014
    C.J., Jan 14, 2014
    #13
  14. TheSouthpaw

    TheSouthpaw Champion Full Member

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    I know right!. Until hes 50 then maybe theyd get him:good
     
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    TheSouthpaw, Jan 14, 2014
    #14
  15. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    49-1. :lol::lol::lol: Is there a new Richard Durham book out?
     
    My dinner with Conteh, Jan 14, 2014
    My dinner with Conteh, Jan 14, 2014
    #15
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