Ali's Missing Years.

Jear,

If he could fight, but not on American soil (and possibly North American) he would be limited to Europe and Japan.
Possibly the Phillipines also.

That would limit the amount of possible opponents, and most likely cause a logistic problem, in trying to put together a fight every 3 months.

I don't know if you remember (you may be too young), but he was
persona non grata in South America, Latin America and Mexico, after refusing the draft.
Canada was not to keen in having him fight either, especially after he beat
George Chuvalo earlier.

Ali even propossed a fight in Iceland!!

 

Yes it is true.

ALI proposed a fight in Iceland, for June 1968.
His recommended opponent.
Philadelphia Heavyweight 'Roger Russell'.

The Country of Iceland suggested a June fight, in the Capitol city Reykjavik.
Temperature levels at that time were usually 50*.
A millionaire businessman was willing to put up $800,000 to promote the fight.
He offered Ali a guarantee of $500,000, plus $75,000 in expenses, if Ali could get to
Iceland in April 1968, and help promote the fight for 6-weeks.

Russell was ranked #10 from December 1967 thru June 1968.
A 21-year old, 6' 0' 188 lb. boxer.
He also was the 1965 National A.A.U. Light Heavyweight Champion.
Roger was 11-1-2 (4 KO's).

In March 1968, he fought a disputed 10-Round Draw with veteran #9 Zora Folley.
Most had Russell as the winner.

In November 1967, he won an upset 10-Round decision over #8 Leotis Martin 24-2-0.

Though, undersized, he was quick-fisted.
In this fight, he would definitely be a 'runner'.
Roger Russell will 'jab-n-run' for as long as he can. Using a quick and pesky jab, he will be able to hold Ali
off for 5 or 6 rounds.
But once he sets down, and attempts to fight, Ali will nail him.
Ali by KO in 8. (Ali leads 4-1-2 on the scorecard)

 

Bosco-Joe,

On Thad Spencer for a possible December 1967 bout.
Probably in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Thad Spencer was rated #1 at that time.
Record of 32-5-0 (14 KO's).

In his last (3) bouts he beat;
Ernie Terrell (Wdec 12)
Amos Lincoln (KO 8
Doug Jones (Wdec 10)

Age 24, 5' 11" @ 195 lbs.
Muscular fighter, that threw good combinations.
Sometimes had a tendency to come to a fight in less than 100% shape.
Had a few outside the ring issues.

If in shape, probably would give Ali a good 'go' for 8 rounds.
Definitely see a stoppage here though.
Lets be fair and say he makes it through 10 rounds.
But does not come out for the 11th round.
Ali by KO in 11. (Ali leads 5-3-2 on the scorecard)

 

sweetsci,

Was the 3/30/67 Floyd Patterson vs. Bill McMurray (California Heavyweight Champion) fight some kind of
Heavyweight Eliminator.

The 6' 4" Bill 'Lanky-Mac' McMurray upset #3 Thad Spencer back in October 1966.
It was for the California State Heavyweight Title
It was stopped on cuts, with Spencer ahead on points.

 

sweetsci,

Yes, I just found the information on the Ali-Patterson II proposed bout.
It appears that they were trying to rush a bout through for
April 25, 1967, before Ali's Ordeal with the Army Draft Board.

It looks like both Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and Detroit, Michigan both passed on the bout.
And Las Vegas cancelled the 4/25/67 scheduled event on April 11.
Fear of another Ali-Patterson I replay was their biggest concern.
Also, rumors of Ali carrying Patterson in the fight to make it look good were
circulating around.

Las Vegas cancelled the bout immediately when the press reported that possible scenario.
Thats exactly why they didn't want either of the Liston-Clay fights.

 

1967 Re-Cap.

March;(New York, New York),,,,,,,, KO 7,,,,,,,, Zora Folley
June; (Tokyo, Japan),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Wdec 15,,, Oscar Bonavena
September; (Rome, Italy),,,,,,,,,,,,, KO 13,,,,,,,Eduardo Corletti
December; (Copenhagen, Denmark) KO 11,,,,,,,Thad Spencer

 

38 Double-D,

If Ali was fighting in 1968, I would bet that a Floyd Patterson fight
would take place in Sweden, probably in the early part of the year.
Lets say March.

Then Roger Russell in Iceland, for June 68'.

Jerry Quarry would fit in somewhere in early-August.

A nice little Autumn visit to Italy in September versus Dante Cane or Piero Tomasinni.

And finish the year in November, in Spain or France.

 

1968 Ali;

March; (Stockholm, Sweden),,,,,,, KO 11,,, #3 Floyd Patterson 46-6-1 (35 KO's)
May; (Liverpool, United Kingdom),,,K0 5 ,,,, #7 Jack Bodell 47-9-0 (27 KO's)
June; (Reykjavik, Iceland),,,,,,,,,,, KO 8,,,, #10 Roger Russell 11-1-2 (4 KO's)
August; (Dublin, Ireland)............. KO 13,, #2 Jerry Quarry 25-1-4 (15 KO's)
October; (Bologna, Italy) ,,,,,,,,,,, KO 8,,,, #9 Dante Cane 22-3-3 (18 KO's)
November; (Brescia, Italy) ,,,,,,,,,, KO 5,,,, #10 Piero Tomasoni 32-6-5 (11 KO's)
December; (Kiel, Germany) ,,,,,,,,,, KO 7,,,, #10 Peter Weiland 21-3-2 (16 KO's)

 

Frankie and the Knockouts;

It;s pretty much there

1967 (for the second half of the year)
Oscar Bonavena
Eduardo Corletti
Thad Spencer