Ali - Ever Out On His Feet?

This was the one time where Ali 'didn't know where he was'. He was badly stunned and, as you mention, getting up at two didn't really help.

 

Frazier had him hurt pretty bad in the 11th round when Ali could barely keep his balance.

 

In the ninth round against Bonavena Ali was hurt. But great champs have great thing happen sometimes. Ali came on to stop Oscar his first k.o. The Muses do watch boxing sometimes!

 

I didn't think he looked quite with it after the Cooper knockdown. The sudden shock of it, in a fight he was cruising in, and the fact he got up too quick (rookie mistake, probably the shock again) didn't help.

I don't think he was tongue-lolling on his corner stool or anything, but he did look a little faraway-eyed for a few seconds there.

 

Arthur Mercante in his book states "Shavers had Muhammad Ali out on his feet but didn't realise it and lost his chance and the decision." (page 83).

For what it's worth...

 

Vs Shavers, Foreman, Frazier and Cooper for sure.

Shavers could have knocked Ali out if he pressed the action. I think Ali was in big trouble in round two, and Shavers just hung back, snake charmed thinking Ali was resting on the ropes to counter. Ali said he has no memory of the fight after that round, and won on instincts. The Shavers match badly damaged Ali.

Ali said Foreman had him out on his feet a few times.

Frazier had Ali out on his feet in round 11 of their first match, which in my opinion is a deffinte 10-8 round for Frazier under the modern scoring rules.

Cooper had Ali in la-la land in his corner. The round ended, and then Dundee jumped into the ring to escort Ali to his corner. Dundee used smelling salts to wake Ali up, and tore Ali’s glove to buy him extra time..

 

Ali was on the verge of going down in the 11th round against Frazier in the FOTC,only his balls kept him vertical.

 

Shavers said that when he hurt Ali, he stopped punching because he felt sorry for hurting his idol. Sounds weird, but that's what he said. So he didn't think Ali was faking it.

 

You can't fake being out on your feet... Ask Zab Judah, **** he was so out on his feet he didnt even know, Michael Spinks... You get it..

 

I think what happens is that you are hurt, and you play act so your opponent thinks you're trying to be funny instead of really hurt. Consequently, they hesitate instead of going after you.

In Round 11, Ali was hurt, but play acted, hoping Frazier would let up. He didn't.

 

Ali seemed to be in the 11th round of his first fight with Frazier. Frazier hit him with a big left hook to the body, and came up with another big left hook to the head, and Ali was hurt extremely badly. Had a ref like Cortez been there, it may have been stopped.

 

Round 11 against Frazier was when I saw ALi most hurt - he was truly out on his feet and could have been finished off.

Aginst Cooper his legs were actually alright when he got up, though no doubt his mind wasn't exactly 100%. However I still don't think Cooper would have finished him, Ali was too good at tieing fighters up and has great survival instincts.

I liked what Hugh McIlvanney said of Ali when he fought Foreman - what stood out most amongst all his other qualities was the 'flawless glittering diamond of his nerve'. When you see him play act when he's hurt, it really rings true.

 

How did everyone score the Ali-Shavers fight btw? I thought it was ridiculous that Ali was given rounds 9 and 12 for late rallies where he landed no more than 3 or 4 punches each time, and they didn't do much damage at all, while Shavers piled up advantage on points for clean punching the rest of the time of both rounds.
I had it:
Ali - 1,3,5,10,11,15
Shavers - 2,4,6,7,8,9,13,14
draw - 12
8-6-1 for Shavers

 

I agree with most here and say that round 11 of the FOTC was the worst shape I've ever seen Ali in.