Ali triumphs to become HW Champion 3 times as an underdog. How did he do it?

I think people don`t get Ali`s incredible will to win... You don`t survive against Liston (eye`s blinded with liniment),broken jaw Norton, Frazier FOTC and Manila, even the beating against Holmes. He had a great chin and enormous heart. Even as his skills declined he found ways to win when he was a shadow of prime Ali. Look at who he fought ! It`s a veritable who`s who of great heavyweights ! What he did with Liston and Foreman is nothing short of amazing. And with virtually nothing left, he got Spinks (albeit a weak champion) in the rematch...

 

If you gambled on fights at the time, you'd know that information simply has to be incorrect.

The Largest odds were 7-1 Liston. Foreman was 3-1 favorite and that's exactly what I gave. Just think about it for a minute---don't you think people would have laid down 10 bucks to win 490? And you get a guy named Ali?

He was a prohibitive favorite over Spinks in their first fight. You couldn't put money on the fight, much like Weaver Holmes 1.

GFor the rematch, Muhammad was favored as well. Not to that degree, but 7-5/8-5. I took Ali at 8-5 and so did lots of folks. I did not know anyone going with Neon Leon, as a matter of fact. Nobody was buying into Leon Spinks. Everyone knew he wouldn't be there long and he was favored--oddly enough--over Coetzee in his next bout he was blown out in. But it was tough to see Coetzee fights and it was kind of a go on reputation and hearsay and smarter opinions than your own type risk.

Incredible wins by Ali alright, but he had far too large of a following to be a longshot of that magnitude. The betting public had been following him and backing him with $$$ right from the start.

Lots of folks picked him to upset Larry Holmes as well. But Larry was the favorite in that one going in. The biggest problem with that fight was Larry was 100% on that night and was simply not going to lose no matter what Ali did. but Muhammad didn't even show up with his C game & here's Larry at his absolute best.

 

I think you mean that the compliant judges found ways for him to win. :yep

 

No, it isn't hard to watch. It was a matchup of 2 top caliber guys and changing of the guard time. I thought one guy showed up that night to put in a career best performance on that night and was going to be a very very difficult guy to beat. The other guy didn't bring much..But we get this time and time again and it doesn't mean you can't watch the above fight or a bout like Duran--Joppy.

You can actually see the competitive spirit and big hearts they have even when they have nothing. But they sure never learned how to quit. Toughest of sports and no other sport has it's elite fail to the same degree.

 

As Muhammad was showing clear signs of ill health in the build up,this fight should never have been allowed to take place. Same with the Trevor Berbick bout the following year. I've never been able to bring myself to watch Holmes-Ali apart from very brief excerpts on Champions Forever.

 

Great point ! Good thing the judges for his fight with Foreman scored it Ali KO 8.. And for Liston they scored it Ali KO 7. How could they score both of those upsets that way !!! Oh the outrage !!!