Did Ali thumb Terrell's eye?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by cross_trainer, Oct 23, 2018.


  1. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I once worked with a guy that lived next door to Terrell's Dad. He would always meet the father over the back fence to talk. He told me that one day Ernie showed up to see the father and the three of them got to talking. Ernie brought up the Ali fight and went on about how Ali took his head and rubbed his face in the ropes. The father replied, "Man, the only thing that man rubbed in your face that night was leather!" Still laugh me arse off at that one.
     
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  2. KernowWarrior

    KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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    Did Ali need to thumb Terrell to beat him? very likely not.

    Did Ali thumb him intentionally, only one person could answer that and he died in 2016.

    End of the day all is fair in a bout if you can get away with it.
     
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  3. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Ali denied it.

    Intent isn't impossible to figure out, though. Criminal courts do it all the time, with a higher burden of proof than historians have.
     
  4. timmers612

    timmers612 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    In 73 Earnie was up here in Mpls MN training and he showed me how Ali did it, in a clinch during the 1st round while the ref was to the side. On film there is a clinch and I assume this is what he was talking about. Earnie said the fight was over at this point, everything was a blur and the most he could do was to keep his gloves in front of his face. Earnie didn't say he hated Ali for it but he was obviously still very bitter.
     
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  5. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I don't think so.

    Ali wasn't a dirty fighter.

    In any case, rubbing someone's eye along a rope must be very difficult to do.
     
  6. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Would it have been possible from the position he showed you to press the eye hard enough to do the damage Terrell had?
     
  7. Vince Voltage

    Vince Voltage Boxing Addict Full Member

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    In the 'Facing Ali' video, the exact moment us pinpointed. It was not in a clinch. Terrell was falling back on the ropes and Ali was flurrying on him.
     
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  8. Entaowed

    Entaowed Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    So....Was there an intentional thumb & was there an intentional rubbing of face against the ropes?

    I find it offensive when someone rights all is fair if you get away with it.
    Nah, that is the very opposite of legitimate victory, sportsmanship & respectability.
    I hope Ali did nothing & do not know what happened.

    But it is a joke to say everything you can do unpunished is OK.
    In life, politics...Or sports.
     
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  9. Jamzy ⭐

    Jamzy ⭐ Active Member Full Member

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    Not the only thing Ali ''thumbed'' :naughty2:
     
  10. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

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    theres absolutely no reaction to the alleged eye gouge. There wasnt one.
     
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  11. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    So Terrell gouged his own eye, after the fight?
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2018
  12. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

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    theres no reaction to it is what i am saying. show me the reaction to it.
     
  13. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    No. You're saying there was no eye gouge. That is what your post says.

    So again: Did Terrell gouge his own eye after the bout?
     
  14. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He may have thumbed him, back before the thumbs were attached too the gloves it happened often.Most of the times accidentally (Maybe not so much with Holmes and Pedroza lol) But the results wouldn't have changed. It's was the same with Duran vs Moore. Ali was levels above Terrell and could've stopped him at will if he choose to. It was like watching a cat toying with a mouse, the cat could kill the mouse any time he choose .
     
  15. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

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    I am saying theres no reaction to an eye gouge.

    DO you have trouble reading this?
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2018