ESPN 30 for 30: Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes

If you take the patriarchal view that the government should tell people what to do, that the government should be everyone's daddy, that it should protect people from themselves, then yes, Ferdie Pacheco is correct that allowing Ali to fight was a crime. If however, you take a libertarian view that individuals should be allowed to self determine their lives, to take risks, and to decide to do something even if it might be "bad" for their health, then Muhammad Ali had every right to decide for himself to keep boxing even in his diminished state. I personally think it is very sad that he continued to box. However, I wholeheartedly support his right to do so, and disagree with Pacheco that it was a crime to allow him to make his own decision about how to conduct his life.

 

So what. If he wants to box with brain damage, that's his choice. Just because you wouldn't make that choice doesn't mean he shouldn't be allowed to live his life the way he chooses. It's his body and his choice to do with it as he wishes. I am completely against all governmental regulations telling people what they can and cannot do with their own bodies.

Ali knew he was messed up. Pacheco knew. Everyone KNEW. It was OBVIOUS. But he wanted to fight, and so he did. That was his chosen professsion and a man has the right to earn if he wishes to do so. If you want to stop people from doing things that might cause them bad health or death, perhaps we should ban mining, or construction, or working for the military, or working in chemical factories, or smoking ... it goes on and on. If that is your lot in life, or choice, so be it.

 

I slept too late. Missed it.

 

Watching it right now. Man, it's sad. Ali was rapidly deteriorating and couldn't even train/spar like a pro boxer. The fight itself has always been hard to watch, but it's clear to me now that the people involved should have never let it happen.

 

What I found interesting was look at the looks on peoples faces when Ali was sparring or struggling with the speedbag. They couldnt believe what their eyes where seeing and hell neither could I, I never knew it was THAT bad going into the Holmes fight or that his speach was that slow. I also noticed towards the end where they refered to him as if he is no longer alive which I suppose in a big way he basically is dead.

 

Omfg i missed it

 

I hope someone uploads it to youtube soon. I missed it, but I heard it was great.

 

A great, great documentary.

 

Just shows what a bunch of exploitave whores surround even the best in this game. They all knew and no one did **** because they all wanted their money.

Remember the scene in the movie Hard Times where Colbern screams at Bronson that he's the one who takes the risks because he fronts the money and Bronson looks at him like he has an ******* in the middle of his forehead ? That sums it up.

 

Talking about beating a dead horse. Ali looked like an old man at what 39? His training camp was a joke, but for 8 million in 1980, I would have fought Holmes too. Ali should have bowed out of that fight a lot quicker.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaQNJyDbNdo[/ame]

some interesting stuff on here

wonder about the credibility of the tests to which ali refers

 

he was 38 for the fight...he was 39 for the berbick fight