Muhammad Ali spars former LHW Champion Jose Torres in 1971

Aside from the fact I've never seen this before and always enjoy watching some new Ali film, what strikes me the most here is - I don't think any heavyweight, or boxer of any weight division, enjoyed being champion more than he did. Beyond the obvious - the money, the women, the fame, etc, all of which he certainly took full advantage of - he liked being around people. Liked talking to them, being approachable, holding open training camps ... yeah, he probably would have been like this anyways, I think it was his nature - but being heavyweight champion gave Ali a world stage to perform in. No wonder it was so hard to walk away from.

 

During the 3-month build up to the Ali vs Frazier FOC, there was a lot of this type of film for viewing on the evening news and weekend Sports Shows. For some reason it got lost over time. One really gets a feel of what the environment really was for those type of big fights back then, as opposed to the "staged" promotion events we have today.

 

All too true!
Excuse me for using Perry's favourite line but unless you did actually live through that era you simply cannot understand just how big those events really were.

 

Someone in the comments section references Steve Lott. Does anyone know if he actually has anything to do with this video? That guy is one of the most incompetent liars I have ever seen. Very rarely do liars have such complete lack of control over their voice tone and facial expression, and in Lott's case he almost appears sarcastic, as if he's *intentionally* sending nonverbal signals that he doesn't believe a word he's saying.

 

I remember Torres saying that Ali was the only fighter who could move backwards 'along the train tracks to avoid the oncoming train', rather than moving to the side. Interestingly, he later corrected himself to include Jack Johnson as the only other fighter capable of such.

 

Torres was the guy who k.o.'ed Willie Pastrano with that left hook shot to the liver. Pastrano said that "hook" finished his career.....and actually stated much later in life, that it contributed to his poor health "condition" (that he eventually dies from).