One of the greatest single-season performances in boxing history, IMO. If you understand exactly what he had to do and the rigorous schedule he had to endure, you would agree. Ali fought 5 times in this year, and had to go into hostile territory every-single time. First he fights George Chuvalo in March, and he fights it on Canadian soil, where everyone will be pulling for Chuvalo. Not only that, but Ali only had 17 days to train! Despite that, Ali comes in in decent shape and puts on a boxing clinic, losing only one or two rounds and winning at least twelve of the fifteen. Then in May, he has a rematch with Henry Cooper, who decked him three years ago. Again, he fights him on his native soild of Britain, where Muhammad's only cheering section are his seconds. He comes in fantastic shape and demontrates how excellent he is in rematches, by completely neutralizing Cooper's left hook and doing more on the inside. He then ends the fight in the sixth, by cuttting up and wobbling the challenger, prompting a stoppage. August 6, and he's back in the ring against Brian London. Again, he only has about three weeks to train, and his opponent has home field advantage, but he still manages to destroy his challenger with relative ease. Six weeks later and it's off to Germany to face 3rd ranked Karl Mildenberger. Ali whips himself into phenominal shape, and has to find it in him to overcome a crowd booing against him. He also was brave enough to take on a southpaw, as many other champions in the past never wanted anypart of southpaws, as they are hard to fight because of their awkwardness. However, Ali still comes throught in the clutch. Then he comes back to the U.S. and fights Houston's Cleveland Willams, in Houston, Texas. In this last fight of the year, Ali puts on possibly the greatest performance by a pugilist of all-time, All the while hearing a crowd of boos. For Ali to schedule fights at that pace and to travel to different countries fighting in hostile territory, each and every single time is remarkable to say the least. Five title fights in one year is an amazing feat. Truly 1966 was the year of Muhammad Ali!:good
1966 will always be known as something else to an Englishman, but besides that it was a great year for Ali.
England won World Cup but, even more importantly, Everton won the FA Cup. Here's some of our fans with some guy called Clay, summer of 66. :good This content is protected
Yes. How dare Ali be 7 years older? He has more experience that way. Also Ali taking two years off and shedding over 50lbs quickly was not fair by Ali, as he would be more rested and refreshed from fighting. Ali had every advantage that night, and Holmes didn't.:yep
Ali 1966 is way over rated. Walker, Robinson, Armstrong, Canzi, Leonard, Gans, all had way better YEARLY runs than Ali ever did in 66 imo. plus other fighters that fought 40 times a year. And one tiny invented made the travel possible, the Airplane. If Ali went to thsos countrys by Train I be impress(As Greb and Dempsey were doing in the 20's)
MDWC, those are some nice pics. The following year of course, Scotland battered England and Celtic became the first British club to lift the European Cup.
Doesnt matter, when your traveling from one city to other city fighting the likes of Tiger Flowers, Mike Gibbions, and Walker in a few weeks time, train to train to reach the city. Ali had it easy in regards to travel.
Hell of a lot easier traveling by train. You get to lay down and sleep. You have room to have meals around a table. Traveling by plane increases your changes of contracting respiratory ailments, and pressure causes balance problems. Totally silly argument Dempsey is making. Obviously he's got a thing against Ali.
It may take a few days to reach were your going by Train. And most of these 1920's were not places of comfort. Ali could get there in 14 hours time. Ali had it easy.
I see Demspey doesn't feature in your 'great years' list mind, just the fact that he took the train a lot. Wow!