What were all the 'pills' Clay was taking before the Holmes fight? Was he on PEDs?

Whatever those things did, I don't think they enhanced his performance.

 

And the issue with diuretics is they can be used to cheat drug tests. Though you could also use them to cut weight, which I think is pretty dangerous.

 

It certainly didn`t work did it?

 

Ali took dieting pills to get his weight down to 216lbs, I don`t even think he could train properly anymore, it has been revealed by Ferdie P. that Ali failed a medical exam for the fight because of his Parkinson`s, he couldn`t even stand on one leg, but it was covered up.

 

More than likely pills to help lose the extra pounds like diuretics ( that's what most of the stories I've read said they were) But what ever they were, it wouldn't and didn't help him at all. Ali only had his charisma at the point in his career . And was slowly losing that to Parkinson's.

 

He took thyroid pills which drained his power and what was left of his speed.

 

That fight was sad

 

I heard it was something to do with weight loss. Evidently Ali was suffering from thyroid problems by that point.

As someone who went through radiation treatments for an overactive thyroid (Graves disease), I can tell you thyroid problems have an impact on every aspect of the body's overall performance. That fact alone should have flagged the bout as a potential 'no-go'

I don't know how bad Muhammad's thyroid problem was, but I doubt it was any fun. I seem to remember him suffering from kidney deterioration as well.

 

Why call him Clay?
Issues?

 

Thyrolar, a thyroid medication. He was taking a lot more than his doctor prescribed because they helped him lose weight. At 217 he was clearly weight drained for the fight, not that he would have won anyway. When he fought Berbick in his final fight he was 236, which is what he should have weighed against Holmes. If he was at his proper weight, he would have lasted the distance, all he had was his heart and his chin. If he had energy he would have been able to go 15. Still would have lost though.

 

"His momma named him Clay, I'mma call him Clay"

 

Fair dues and a somewhat more justifiable comment at the time it was made.

To refer to him as Clay almost 50yrs later and it smacks of underlying issues in my book.

 

Yes, he was on PEDs. Thyrolar acts as upper. He did it incorrectly and it didn't work out.

 

His quack physician - courtesy of Herbert Muhammad - and without benefit of any sort of bloodwork or lab testing, diagnosed Ali with a thyroid disorder and prescribed Thyrolar. Muhammad, brilliant boxer but not otherwise the sharpest tool, thought they were like vitamins, and the more you took, the better. Between the meds he was given and didn't need, and the fact he took too many of his own volition - oh yeah, and the fact he had no business in the ring at that point of his life ... amazing we didn't have more of a tragedy that night.