Good post,Richard per usual. The thing about the timing of the FOTC was that Muhammad still had that jail sentence hanging over him so he needed to make the fight rapidly. So he knew that if he had to be sent to prison,at least his family would be ok financially.
Thanks for the compliment. At that particular time, there was a rumor flying around, if Muhammad Ali had defeated Joe Frazier, regained his title, he would have lost the U.S. Supreme Court case, Al would have had to serve his full 5 year sentence for Draft Evasion. But in the event Ali lost, which he did, the high court would hear his case, thus reversing his conviction, expunging his arrest. Ali's case was heard on June 28 1971, he was exonerated of any charges, the court ruled that some of Ali's constitutional rights had been violated, the Draft Board had failed to accept Ali's claim that he was a Muslim Minister.
He wasn't. That's why Norton was a problem all 3 fights, Ali couldn't get in his head and he stuck with a very challenging game plan from start to finish. Norton not only visited a hypnotist to get over the anxiety of facing such a famous boxer, he even laughed at some of the trash talk. I remember there was a clip of an interviewer telling Norton that Ali declared he would knock him out, to which Norton replied "it's a free country, he can say whatever he wants".
I remember it well, Muhammad Ali said, I Created Norton, Now I Must Destroy Him. Just as though he created him in a laboratory.
I think it would be a bad deal to be a heavyweight boxer who all your opponents loved. Because who hates a guy they beat and beat up?
Just Joe. They're both gone now. The list of boxers who loved him is much longer, including many of his former opponents.
I speak spanish and bonavena after the fight he said a couple of things showing respect and admiration to Ali, what he said before the match was just mind games
He said you're the champ, you're tough, and you'll beat Frazier. Shame he came to such a young and tragic end.
can{t remember that part but he said: I said chicken just to get you nervous, but after the fight from fighter to fighter you are the champion I'm argentino (in spanish) hope you understand
I scrolled each page you nailed it. He did hate Ali and attacked him in sparring with aggressiveness uncommon for a sparring partner. He was in the Deerlake Camp with Ali but he didn't laugh at Ali's jokes or watch TV with him or pay him much attention. He was there to beat the hell out of him. Finally I think they had a blowout because Williams was supposed to fight on the undercard in Zaire, something and he wanted compensation from Ali. I guess they fought in the ring over it. Then Ali fired him.
How did Quarry feel about Ali and visa versa? In the ring Jerry looked pretty p*ssed in the face off but that can be easily put down to being part of the pre fight ritual and getting in the aggressive mood. After the fight in Atlanta, despite his enormous disappointment at the stoppage, Jerry sought Ali out to congratulate him and Ali appeared to be very decent and empathetic when the two fighters were arm in arm. Besides that I’ve never really read/heard any opinion/comments from either Ali or Quarry regarding one another.
RE: SPARRING. Jimmy Ellis knocked down Ali in sparring. When they fought in real life Ali dominated him.
