Muhammad Ali Punches

Last night I rewatched some of the Ali documentary on PBS Passport, with all that great clear footage.

He wasn’t a consistent one-punch killer like some of the usual suspects but Lord, he hit Foreman with some SHOTS in Zaire. From angles that only someone with his untraditional style could throw them from.

 

Um…

 

Re Ali, Foster said that no one had a right to be that fast, particularly at HW.

I don’t know the details of the Mathis KD but Liston put Chuck down with a body shot. What Wepner took from Sonny otherwise was unbelievable. I could be wrong but I also think Foreman put Wepner down via a body shot also.

Of course we know that Ali generally gunned for the head, not the body.

I think at the time of the Ali-Wepner fight they promoted (incorrectly) Chuck as never having been put down.

 

There is no record of Foreman decking Chuck. George won it on cuts.

 

Williams retired (again) after facing Ali. When asked why, he said something like "their's no use continuing when someone like that is around."

He only came out of retirement when Ali was in exile.

 

He did lose the FOTC and Leon Spinks I, but here's what's truly extraordinary. He halted Bonavena in round 15, knocked out Wepner in round 15, had Shavers going at the end of round 15, and referee Carlos Padilla admitted he would have called off Manila in Ali's favor if Frazier hadn't rallied by then in round 15.

Going the Championship Distance is one thing. To repeatedly do what Ali could do in round 15 shows crazy endurance and stamina. He won NINE Championship Distance decisions (Chuvalo I, Terrell, Mac Foster, Bugner 2, Young, Norton III, Evangelista, Shavers and Leon Spinks 2) including his three title defenses in 1977 alone.

Prior to Ali-Chuvalo I in March 1966, you have to go back to Marciano-Charles I in June 1954 for a HW Title bout which went the Championship Distance, speaking of which Ezzard himself won over 15 rounds five times (Maxim 2X, JJW 2X and Louis) while losing over that distance twice, to Marciano and in JJW IV. Louis only won over 15 with Farr, in Godoy I and JJW I, the latter two being SDs for the Bomber.

Carnera's two successful defenses were over distance specialists Uzcudun and Loughran, wins even Paul Gallico did not dispute the validity of.

Going back earlier is pointless, because the next distance specialist was Jack Johnson, who won over 20 rounds more than he did the classic Championship Distance, before 15 rounds became established as the title limit. (Louis-Pastor 2 and Louis-Simon I were the final HW title bouts scheduled for 20 rounds.)

 

Terrell was really a fight where he could how done it more, though.

 

Always had underrated power imo.
Even when he was on his toes his jabs would snap your head back.
Opponents had to respect his power, and they couldn't simply walk through his punches.

 

Haha - got to give it to Cleve for his honesty.

I think it was the 3rd KD in Rd 2 when Ali landed the two left hooks then right hand on Williams to put him down - those punches were powerful absolute but they also looked like they detonated on impact - some incredible snap on them.

It doesn’t get any better than that though I personally would rate Lous’ lightning triple left hooks on Baer to be on par.

 

Yeah I've discussed this before with you I think but Ali doesn't get enoug credit for this victory nowadays because of Williams' condition. Yes Williams was a shell of himself when he faced that version of Ali, but nobody else walked through him, and demolished him in that matter, including those facing an even further depleted Williams.

 

Agree - and as far as fights thereafter go (which we’ve also discussed previously), all things considered, Cleve put up a very good performance against Chuvalo. Very gutsy also.

Seriously, aside from Foreman, I haven’t seen anyone hurt and set Chuvalo back on his heels like Cleve did on several occasions during their fight. Dude could punch - there’s no debate on that.

 

Always found Chuvalo's chin overrated tbh. He fought all of 4 punchers in his entire career. Dejohn, Williams, Frazier and Foreman. The former two were shot (Williams literally) and gave him significant trouble by his own admission. The latter two were extremely green and ended up stopping him. People can say "Oh but he remained on his feet." but the fact of the matter is if the ref didn't step in and save Chuvalo he's going down and likely not getting up.

I've always felt prime versions of Dejohn and Williams would've beaten Chuvalo. Both (particularly Williams) were of a higher class.