What if Muhammad ali trained with Cus D' Amato?

I heard he contacted Cus for advice before the Foreman fight, and they got along well during the making of "AKA Cassius Clay" - but those were selective circumstances, not the daily grind of getting ready for multiple championship bouts - I do wonder how well the relationship would have held up then, not to mention the influence of the NOI on Ali's mindset

 

I heard, that Angelo Dundee was a good trainer for an unique boxer like Ali. He has not attempted to remould him. For example ,when Ali made a technically good punch, he said something like: "What a great punch, it would be great to see more of them in the future" He gave Ali just some helpful hints and polished his style a bit. I think he was also quick-witted and experienced. When Ali fought Henry Cooper (1st meeting) he was knocked down in round 4 and he was still dazed during the break. Dundee stuck his finger in Alis split glove, causing a slightly bigger split. So both gloves were replaced and Ali had some more time to recover.

Cus D`Amato was an awesome, legendary trainer, though I don`t know if he would fit to Ali. Otherwise, maybe he would be Alis trainer, cause both men have known each other and they liked each other too.

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Interesting stuff mate particularly per Foreman.

 

Cus and Ali would not have worked. Muhammad was a very strong individual, as was D'Amato, and that would cause an immeditate clash.
So it was better that they had frequent, rather than daily contact.

 

Three points. Angelo Dundee had a marvelous resume. He was in Ali's corner when he shook the world by upsetting BIg George and winning the HW title and he was in Big George's corner when 45 year old Big George shook the world by knocking out Michael Moorer and regaining the heavyweight title he lost to Muhammad Ali. Ali could have probably saved energy by not using the entire ring but the person following him exerts himself too. As previously mentioned Ali liked and respected Cus.

 

Muhammad Ali was not a co dependent type of fighter that his whole soul depended on a trainer, Ali was pretty self reliant in the ring, that is why Angelo Dundee and Ali worked out. When Dundee was in Jimmy Ellis's corner on July 26 1971, Ali did not fall apart, he stopped Ellis.

 

Harry Wiley who trained the great Sugar Ray Robinson was in his corner for that fight. He taught Ali the shoulder roll and he used it beautifully. Such a graceful fighter in his prime.

 

Cus couldn't have trained Ali honestly. Ali didn't listen to his trainers as it was. Cus needed to totally control the life of his boxers. Brainwash them if you will. I don't see this being a fit.

 

Dundee also had Carmen Basillio, Luis Rodriguez and Willie Pastrano.

 

I would hope that Cus would rid Muhammud of the terrible habit of fighting with his back to the ropes

 

I have to agree with your post, Muhammad Ali was not mentally fragile to be brain washed, he was his own man.

 

Maybe the lead rights were to spoil George's shoving but it would be hard to shove a moving target that's as big and strong as you.

 

And Jose Napoles and Sugar Ray Leonard. A good trainer, coach, or manager's goal is not to make an athlete the best but the best version of himself or herself.

 

Cus also told him to hit him as hard as he could straight up and throw punches with bad intentions. For me it was about getting respect early and to let Foreman know he had solid artillery coming back at him.

 

I didn't know he had Napoles.