This content is protected Interesting addition to the myth that Ali just laid on the couch eating cheese burgers… Ellis, Futch, Norton and Bugner + some resident posters can all confirm Ali was well known to and 100% sparring in exile, this I’ll add is briefly after or during his legal troubles it’s in an exile “grey” area lol.
Wasnt this Ali’s last exhibition in Detroit before his exile where he faced Al Blue Lewis and Orville Qualls? This would have been June 15 with his exile starting five days later.
Nothing to see here. This exhibition was in June 67, Ali’s last actual fight being in Mar 67 vs Folley. A month prior to that, in Feb67, Ali had fought Terrell, and prior to that he fought Williams in Nov66 - cramming the fights in before his ban came into full effect. Imagine that - a Champ defending his title 3 times in just the space of 4 months or so? The mod. athletes/boxers are still superior of course - Ali’s ban ultimately included exhibitions such as this. The sparring partner is Orville Qualls, as @RockyValdez has already said. Apparently Qualls stood 6’6” but with a not so outstanding pro record.
Guys, I've never actually seen an Ali fight, but looking at this he looks-I don't want to be disrespectful because I know people loved him but he does not look like really really great to me. Someone like Usyk looks much more technically perfect to me. Can you recommend some fights for me where you think if I watched Ali fighting in it that he'd beat a peak Usyk from years ago at "CW" where he'd still be one of Ali's bigger open tents?
Watch Ali vs Uncle Young that’s a BANGER Alis best win over a fellow MASTER boxer, real display of 70s skill.
Maybe a DOH by me but that myth that Ali didn't train in "exile" needs to die doe you'd have to be a rube to believe that, actually I think his decline had to do with detectable early Parkinson's symptoms, Charles was HW champion with early Lou Gehrig's disease both champions in debatably weaker eras suffering "afflictions".
Never…ever judge a guy off a sparring or exhibition fight. Much of the time they are prob way out of shape, practicing new things, not taking it seriously etc. Any pre banishment fights after Liston are good to watch. He just destroys everyone.
I mean, I feel you and everything but at the same time I've seen Tyson and Greb just working out and they looked PHENOMENAL and then you got Ali and he seems to be the most famousest dude for being the greatest and it's kinda jarring to see this, to be honest. But I get what you saying and I'ma keep a open mind and watch one of his fights you have mentioned, thanks.
Can’t vouch for its exact accuracy but I have read that Ali weighed 230 lbs vs Rocky’s 205 lbs for the computer fight. Rocky apparently went into some decent training to trim some considerable fat that he had accrued during retirement. I could guess Ali might’ve cut some poundage himself to appear reasonably respectable in front of the cameras. Legend has it that Ali deliberately flipped some jabs to send Rocky’s toupee askew. Don’t know if i buy that since Ali was highly respectful of Marciano otherwise. Of course that initial claim led to the further claim that Rocky gave Ali a good body blast for his insolence. It would’ve been cool if Louis was a few years younger and got in the ring like that with Ali - just for some vague comparison - Joe wouldn’t have appeared so much smaller than Ali - which might’ve surprised some. Great face off pic between the pair - see below. Ali almost looks proud of his exile paunch. EDIT: The linked FB page claims Ali to have been 240 lbs for the computer fight. Rocky appears to be looking down at that same paunch, with a slight smile, perhaps thinking “Okay, that looks pretty soft - I’m gonna give it a good workout”. Lol. They should have had Rod Serling referee instead of Woroner - it would’ve rounded off the eerie feel to it all. This content is protected
So very true and Ali might be THE poster boy for perhaps looking less than impressive for the very reasons you outlined. Ali was probably that much more “frustrating” than most to watch in sparring - because he goofed, held and broke the action. But when he moved and let the hands go - it was like WOW - I want to see more of that! Even in ‘65, Ali kept a lid on what he could truly do in sparring but still gave enough glimpses of what he was truly capable of: - This content is protected
