Did Ali ruin Terrell?

Ali controlled the action even in the rounds he was doing nothing. I know that sounds like an oxymoron. All i can say is watch the fight. I rarely discuss pre-film fighters for the reason you cited. There's a reason the IBHOF separates inductees by era.

 

You know what's interesting - one of the things that I praise and equally criticise Ali for is being able to train/fight up or down to the perceived threat of the level of his opponent. He took the p1ss at times but I suppose for a man with compromised hands and going through the wars he faced it allowed him to stay busy and at the top of the game for so long.

I don't see the point of bringing up lazy, overweight performances when hypothesising the best Vs the best - what did they do when they faced the very best they could. More time, he passed the test. Only a few others can say the same.

 

What? Ali almost lost to Chuck Wepner? seriously? That's like saying Trump almost lost to Kamala Harris

 

I agree. It’s like saying Biden almost lost to Trump in 2020.

 

WHAT'S MY NAME?!?

 

You guys are forcing me to watch Ali-Wepner again. As I said in another post I really don't enjoy Ali's Fat Elvis phase, which was basically anything after The Rumble, and especially the Thrilla, though he did whip himself into the best shape possible for Norton lll and Spinks ll, but the thngs that made Ali Ali had left, well all except the heart, courage, and determination. I'm watching it again now.

 

I get to hear the inimitable Redd Foxx's commentary.

 

Are you s**tting me?

I guess he almost lost to Ron Lyle too ...

 

Now I have to rewatch Ali-Lyle. Ron looked better than Chuck though.

 

Chuck did a lot of rabbit punching.

 

wasn’t he actually down on the cards at the time of the KO?

 

Yes but you notice how long it took him to end it when he stopped farting around.

 

Basically was, but he was predominantly giving away rounds, messing around and trying to continue the Rope A Dope legend that he had built up.

When he got serious, he basically changed the fight with one punch and then threw a volley of unanswered shots that Ron didn't really try to defend or fight back from, giving the ref a choice to make. With Ali calling for the stoppage, as he had done so before in previous fights and with Ron not fighting back - defend yourself at all times, ref stopped it. Lyle could've visibly continued but he didn't do enough in the moment to convince the ref otherwise.

 

Yes, but if Ali didn’t finish him the 9th would have been a 10-8 round and Ali would have been up on two cards.

 

Chuck is a hard guy to dislike.