Double Standards

Besides, it’s kind of a time honored tradition for the young alpha lion to beat up the old deposed alpha lion, with both of them earning big checks in the process. And someday, the young one ends up the old one. Happened to Louis, Ali, Holmes, Tyson, etc.

They all know this is how it works. Tyson is an easy example because he knows his boxing history. When he climbed into that ring to fight Holmes, like he didn’t know the history of this, that someday he was gonna be on the other side of this thing? And then one day, there he was climbing into the ring to fight Lennox Lewis (physical age aside, Lewis was the young lion there).

 

Williams was still a bit worth it despite the fact he was heavily downgraded to an even more heavy handed plodder, Archie Moore was still reasonable as Ali was still a young man and tried to make some experience,but you can't blame Holmes for the fight too, Ali desperately needed the money and while he shouldn't have passed and got a healthy retirement money instead, Don King released him into the ring.

 

Ali was slurring and moving slugish before the fight. He couldnt stand on one leg and touch his nose for gods sake. This isnt a shot or old fighter at all, not at ALL. this is a man with possible brain damage and a neurological disease that is clearly affecting him and is about to fight the HW champion. And Larry, not realizing this and therefore beating the **** out of him made the situation 10x worst. Thats why people hate Larry.

 

Its crazy that people say that Ali was 'old' or was 'shot'. The man had late stages of parkinsons disease. That is 10 times more different than Moore, Williams, or 99.99% of fights in history

 

Not saying that people should hate Larry for it, but this is way different than any other fight that you can name. Ultimately the comission is the one that shouldve go to jail, but larry's situation is weird since he couldve realized that there was something wrong with Ali, but since he didnt he just figured he was old.
Also, Muhammad had been showing symptoms since 75', and has i said he couldnt stand on one foot and touch his nose. Also the footage speaks for itself, parkinsons had already kicked in

 

Either Larry didn't realize it or he knew,but was still holding back pretty much.(If that wasn't a sick Ali Infront of him he would've mauled the guy with several ko punches.)

 

Where do people get that from? The “couldn’t stand on one leg and touch his nose” quote I see it a lot with no source attached, bit like the Cus BS about telling Tyson a shorter? fighter couldn’t “go right at Foreman” lol.

 

Believe me, plenty of people still do. It's largely what Larry's known for to the casual world, that and being the victim of an 'avenging' Mike Tyson

 

He wouldn't have beaten David Tua

 

Are you saying that Williams would have KO'D 1967 Ali??

 

This is from wikipedia
Due to concerns for Ali's health, the Nevada State Athletic Commission had the former champion examined at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic as a prerequisite to being granted a boxing license. Ali checked into the clinic on July 23, 1980. His neurological exam was conducted by Dr. Frank Howard, whose report contained the following information: Ali showed a slight degree of missing when he tried to touch his finger to his nose, he had difficulty in coordinating the muscles used in speaking, and he did not hop on one foot with expected agility. However, Dr. Howard determined that there were no specific findings to prohibit Ali from fighting. The Mayo Clinic report was forwarded to the Nevada State Athletic Committee, but it was not made public at that time. Based on the report, Ali was granted a license to box in Nevada.

 

It was not Larry's business to realize something was wrong with Ali. The fight was negotiated and a contract was drawn up; Ali agreed to it as did Holmes. The role of Larry Holmes in the whole situation is clear and simple; sign the contract, prepare for the fight, fight to win, get paid. He did all of those things.
The only person responsible for the condition of Ali is Ali. He, of all people, should have knowledge of his ability to perform. If he deluded himself into thinking he that he was going to pull off another 'miracle' like the Foreman fight, he wasn't alone in thinking that leading up to the fight. If he knew the truth and took the fight for a payday, he did that too. Larry Holmes has no culpability in the situation.

 

I agree to a point, but its foolish to think that a boxer is a one dimensional machine. Ali was broke so he took it. IMO, could Holmes have noticed it and call it out? Yes, he even mentions it pre fight that Ali wasnt as quick thinking as he used to be. Should he be hated for it? No, considering that he also stepped down the gas after a few rounds.

 

So a neurologist at arguably the top medical center in the world says there’s no reason to prohibit him from fighting/denying him a license … and your conclusion is that he should have been prohibited from fighting?