Fighters that Ali sparred with........

He sparred with Ingo Johannsen as a teenager

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Jimmy Ellis, Sgt Eddie Brooks (both of whom dropped Ali in sparring)

 

Pretty sure the great Tony Tubbs and Al Blue Lewis were sparring partners on opposite ends of his career. He fought an exhibition with Mike Dokes but not sure if they sparred in a camp.

 

Our own Tim Witherspoon. Jody Ballard.

 

Jeff Sims split his lip in sparring, causing Ali to grow a mustache to cover it up (and calling himself ‘Dark Gable,’ haha).

I think Jeff Merritt sparred with him too.

 

The “Dark Gable”, now that was funny!

There was also Cody Jones and Tiger Roy Williams (and their famous debt settling duke outs) among sooo many others sparring partners.

Gee, the names on Ali’s sparring resume are almost as impressive as the names on his pro record.

There were also the one offs including vs Doug Jones, Ronnie Lyle and much later, Tommy Hearns - and the Hit Man was putting some steam on his shots.

 

Pretty sure Al “Blue” Lewis served a stint sparring with Ali before challenging for the title. Don’t know the details but I read it somewhere.

EDIT: To clarify, I don’t mean in the lead up to the title fight that Blue was sparring with Ali, but at some point before that. I worded that awkwardly.

 

Nah, your wording was fine.

I actually think it would take a very awkward interpretation to misunderstand what you meant.

Anyway, I recall same - and they might’ve referenced it during the commentary for their actual fight - if they didn’t, then it would’ve been remiss of them not to have, at any rate.

We could be heading into the realm of the more efficient question - WHO didn’t spar Ali at least once. Lol.

 

Floyd Joyner, who also sparred with Frazier and Liston, among others. When Floyd caught a federal drug case Ali wrote to the judge on his behalf but Frazier refused.

 

From various sources, I’ve come across the following names:

Joe Bugner (for Jimmy Ellis fight)

Jack Bodell (Brit southpaw, for Mildenberger)

Mel Turnbow

Rahman Ali (his brother, formerly known as Rudy Clay)

Greg Page

Michael Dokes

 

Before he became a star amateur Greg Page garnered some attention when he sparred some rounds with Ali as a teen.

 

Can't add any names to the list, but a question popped into my head: Has any other ATG had so many reported whippings and bad showings while sparring? Seems like every time I turn around there's another name to add to the list of guys that got the better of him.

I know Ali sparred in a particular way and would purposely let guys beat on him at times. But I can't think of anyone that has such negativity attached to his sessions in the gym.

 

He sparred regularly with Harold Johnson in 1961, when Johnson was in Miami to fight Jesse Bowdry.

 

Ellis was a long time sparring partner.