What was the hardest punch Ali ever took?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by DavidC77, Jun 18, 2019.


  1. C.J.

    C.J. Boxings Living Legend revered & respected by all Full Member

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    I've seen Ali say the hardest punchers he ever faced were Smokin Joe Frazier & Earnie Shavers
    BUT the hardest single punch he ever took was Henry Cooper's left hook "Enery's 'Ammer"
    Angelo Dundee's clever corner work saved history being changed. Ali didnt clown in round 5 did he ??
     
  2. Songshadow

    Songshadow Dogged & Relentless Full Member

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    I just saw a video of Ali getting his Jaw broken.
    I think it was from Ken Norton.
    A long time ago I heard that Foreman broke Ali's arm but I couldn't find any information it.
     
  3. HOUDINI

    HOUDINI Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Norton was not a huge puncher. Hard puncher yes. One issue he had was a tendency to punch with an open glove and another his very wide stance. Ken caught Ali right to break his jaw nor necessary an extremely hard blow.

    Foreman never broke Ali’s arm
     
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  4. Rspen46

    Rspen46 Member Full Member

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    the Left in the 1st Frazier fight by far #1
     
  5. Ragamuffin

    Ragamuffin Active Member Full Member

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    I'm guessing the hardest head shot was from Earnie Shavers, and the hardest body shot, from Foreman.
     
  6. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Nonsense.
     
  7. GordonGarner65

    GordonGarner65 Active Member Full Member

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    Strict answer to the actual question in correct context. Henry Cooper.
     
  8. Rspen46

    Rspen46 Member Full Member

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    Best punch to the head, the Left from Frazier in the 1st fight, one of the best punches ever thrown by an ATG with power.
    Ali took it, got up and continued, shows how great his ability to take one was.
    Best Body shot from Foreman, several of them.
     
  9. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    I'm guessing to a certain extent but just my opinion based on the timing and accuracy of the punch not to mention Ali's reaction.
    It's the 1st fight with Joe Frazier but not the Knockdown or even the hook in the 11th.
    It's in the 9th round of the first fight. Early in the round. Ali is on tbe ropes and brings his chin up at the precise moment Joe whips a short hook right on his chin. It snaps Ali's head in a way that would have knocked out mere mortals. We know Ali wasnt normal in that regard.
    Ali is hurt badly and reels along the ropes taking vicious beating for most of the round. Don Dunphy even says " Ali is in real trouble here". It started to look like a stoppage was upcoming. Ali rallied back like only he could. He had those amazing recovery powers. Frazier had to be amazed as well. You can't hit a man any better than that. Ali comes back at the very end of the same round and hurts Joe.
    Ali won the round though he actually shouldn't have.
     
  10. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Amazing round, kudos for pointing that one out.

    I thought either THAT uppercut by Foreman or one of the early right hands by Shavers rocked Ali even harder than anything Joe threw. The difference is that by then Ali was employing his rope-a-dope and better at rolling with punches. In FOTC Ali was exposed for having a preposterously lazy right hand for blocking....each time I watch that fight I can't get over how Ali seemed nearly incapable of blocking that hook. It was a fight I think he learned a lot from...like how to keep your right hand up as much as possible against a big hooker lol. Shoulda known that one heck of a lot earlier, and I wouldn't be surprised if Dundee opened up a family-size can of whoop ass during the FOTC over it (would have LOVED to have heard that).
     
  11. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    I've read at least two or three places that he broke Peralta's arm in the rematch, but there's no mention of anything like that in the fight summary on boxrec and I'v never seen footage of the fight.
     
  12. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Never happened.
     
  13. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Why woud it be nonsense?
     
  14. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I thought nonsense was a pretty strong word...just watch the Cooper fight, it was a freeking incredible left that might have won Cooper the fight....
     
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  15. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    To say that the punch Cooper landed on Ali is the hardest punch he ever took is, in my opinion, nonsense.
     
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