Gil Clancy on Foreman

Clancy told George that a minimum of three weeks was needed to get acclimated to the heat and humidity in Puerto Rico.

A few years later, Gil provided color commentary on CBS for Dokes-Ocasio I, and he actually mentioned before the opening bell that Dokes had made the exact same mistake Foreman did, and he warned Dokes about the consequences, as this match was being contested in an outdoor ring. Sure enough, Michael immediately paid the price, as Clancy noted the excessive perspiration pouring off of his body almost as soon as the action commenced. Dokes was lucky to escape with a draw.

During the post fight interview, Gil again chided him for this transgression, and a drained and exhausted Dokes replied in a most good humored, humbled and respectful tone, "Believe me, Mr. Clancy, I will never make that mistake again!"

Sure enough, Dokes arrived for their rematch three weeks before the bout, and this time it was held indoors in an air conditioned arena. Michael dropped Jaws in the first round. When Ocasio got up, he charged Dokes, and ran right into a bomb which flattened him. To his credit, Jaws managed to struggle back to his feet, but with the three knockdown rule in effect, it was over, and he could offer no resistance against that third knockdown.

That anybody could make the same mistake after the high profile of Young-Foreman seems incredible. As a broadcaster, Dokes D10 Ocasio was one of Clancy's finest moments.

 

Yea, I talked to Gil several times. He and my good friend Howie Albert were together for years. I sat with both of them at the 2008 Christmas Party for Ring 8. I drove Howie to the affair. That was the last time they were together, as Howie passed away several weeks later. Like you stated above he had Frazier as the greatest puncher.

He also told me that Jerry Quarry was a very good puncher too.

Gil has been failing for the last several years.

 

Whatever the case may be, Foreman was not the same man in the ring with Young that night, and perhaps Gil's interview gave us the sort of insite we needed to verify this. As for the reports of him throwing up in the locker room and seeing Jesus after the fight, I'll take it with a grain of salt, given that it was Foreman and no one else who claimed it.. But, there were definitely times when George had Young hurt in that match, but failed to follow up the way that he did with most of his other foes..

 

I like Gil Clancy, he's an intelligent trainer. Sounds like he's losing it a bit with that though.

I like old HBO coverage of fights where he's on there commentating; he had great insight.

 

I like Gil but he always has something to say that makes no sense.

His opinions on Monzon are truly the work of a bitterman.

 

Clancy is a super knowledgeable trainer and I dont think he blew a lot of hot air. I dont think he was one of the top strategist, but he definitely knew what he was talking about and looking at. He was also an excellent tv analyst (my personal favorite).

 

How can he have Frazier as the hardest puncher of all time atsch
Even if he didn't have a lot of snap, that's whats so weird about Foreman. His hands are so heavy and his arms are so strong that he doesn't have to have any technique. in his second career he might have hit harder because he had more muscle mass and he had more technique.
Personally, I think Shavers hits the hardest of them all.

 

Anyone who is not a fan of Clancy owning Merchant on HBO is nuts. He didnt give a **** about anything Merchant said, and always called him out on his BS.

 

What opinions? I think I'm going to really enjoy hearing of someone else's not drinking the Monzon kool-aid.

 

I love it.

Carlos clearly won both fights though.

 

what happened with Merchant.

 

Usually the other commentators dont like to be confrontational with Merchant, but Clancy never held back if he didnt agree with Merchant.

 

Shame that Foreman didn't listen to Clancy.His career may have taken a truly different turn.But that left hook Dokes caught Ocasio with in the rematch was cold blooded!

 

I loved how Dokes didn't telegraph that hook, and could use it like others used their jabs. Michael's reach measured 78 inches, fingertip to fingertip, but he had short arms, which actually enhanced his execution of the hook.

Foreman's career may indeed have taken a very different turn. The Young outcome surprised me, as he did seem to have made significant progress in dealing with cuties like that by dispensing with Denis the way he did.