Ali was in great mental and physical condition? IMO this was the last fight where he put everything together. He had some great wins in Lyle, Shavers and Frazier 3 but this was the last great performance.
Yes. I was gonna laugh off your post as I thought you said he had great performances against Lyle and Shavers. But yes I think this was his last great fight. I also think this fight took out quite a lot more of him than people realize which contributed to subsequent performances, and questionable at best defenses.
A truly magnificent performance from Muhammad. Myths gather myths nowadays but a lot forget how much Ali was in control all the way in this fight. Not saying that Foreman's punch power was n't dangerous - it was,but I could n't give the champion any more than two rounds and maybe a share of one other out of the seven completed stanzas and Muhammad was winning the eighth right up until he stopped George. As for the topic of the post: Yes it was all downhill for Muhammad after this one. At first it was more a mental thing rather than physical. He knew that he had done it all and shocked the world again and it would have been the perfect moment to have rode off into the sunset. In retrospect healthwise,and his legacy woud still have been intact. And I believe that part of him wanted to retire but the incredible financial incentives,hangers on and the moth to the flame mindset kept him going far longer than he should have. After the 'Thrilla' it became a physical decline also.
I'm almost certain it was this fight that Futch said was Ali's last great performance. He said something like it was the last time he whipped himself into tip top shape.
The last time that he was truly great but I do think the rubber with Frazier was the last great fight, despite the diminished abilities of both fighters. To me, it's just a fight, full of drama, heroic effort and defiance of age, ringwear and slower reflexes.
I have always wondered if the fight contributed to Ali's health problems afterwards, I mean he took some tremendous shots to the body. I believe he never received such body punishment in any match, I read somewhere that he pissed blood for a time after the fight but it was never confirmed. Anyway this is the fight that proved he was the GOAT, against all odds he beat one of the biggest heavyweight monsters ever(Foreman is actually my favorite boxer)
Agreed. Also a lot of those punches he took on the gloves must have had an impact on his head because when you have your gloves up high and touching your head, when a punch lands on the gloves, some of the force of the blow travels to the head. And this was George Foreman throwing the punches. How many punches did Ali absorb that night? Surely they were enough to cause permanent damage.
Yes if only Ali had walked off in to the sunset, after his stunning upset over Foreman. I know, Ali was never gonna call it a day after that win, but it would be the perfect time.
We can forever debate Ali’s true intentions/strategy for that fight but his weight of 216 1/2 lbs tells me a lot. Dancing weight, as demonstrated in the rematches vs Norton and Frazier was about 212 1/2lb. 4 lbs is not a huge upscale but given very fine calibrations and strategy it can be. I wouldn’t say Ali pre med’d to dispense with movement completely - but it did seem he was prepared and conditioned for being more flat footed and harder punching. Also, distribution of weight is important - Ali did wood chopping as always - but perhaps more intensely purposed for the Foreman fight. He didn’t have quite the aesthetically trim waist as he did at 212 1/2 lb vs Norton and Frazier but his stomach was still tight and toned. Most notably, his chest, shoulders and arms appears that much more thick and firm in terms of muscle. And, for a welcome exception, Ali had absolutely no trouble with his hands going in and during the fight which would’ve allowed him to prepare and punch optimally in real fight time , without any inhibition. Maestro prep and performance from the gym to the ring - which was the size of a postage stamp - often over sighted when some people want to overly focus on the loose ropes.
