Anyone here predict an Ali victory over Holmes?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by GoldenHulk, Oct 2, 2008.


  1. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I was only 9 years old when this fight happened. I remember going to the barbershop with my dad and looking at the latest Sports illlustrated, which showed a beat up Ali sitting in his corner between rounds, while I waited to get my hair cut.
    I remember looking at the pics of the fight thinking that Holmes must be an awesome fighter to kick the crap out of Ali, of course not understanding or knowing that Ali was over the hill, his 2 year layoff, and having a general lack of boxing knowledge at the time.
    Did anyone here think Ali was going to work a miracle and win the title a 4th time?
     
  2. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    I don't think anyone seriously gave Ali a chance- a few celebrities of the day maybe and one or two writers that sucked his **** like from Ring maybe. But the consensus thought Holmes would beat Ali in late 1978 even.
     
  3. Arka

    Arka New Member Full Member

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    He twice went life and death with Leon Spinks.What would make anyone think he had a chance with a peak Holmes,two years later?
     
  4. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    Because you can fool some of the people all of the time it seems. I wouldn't call the Spinks rematch life and death, more of a case of "Now for Part Two of the bargain". :D
     
  5. CottoDaBodykill

    CottoDaBodykill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    i dont really think so ... i seen a thing that showed him training for that fight ..man he was sooo off
     
  6. kickbxn5

    kickbxn5 Active Member Full Member

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    Uhhh, twice? Maybe the first Ali-Spinks was a battle but the second fight was more like a sparring session.

    I was a kid and my heart wanted Ali to win (who didn't back then?) but I knew that Holmes was going to crush him.
     
  7. Mega Lamps

    Mega Lamps Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Most thought Holmes would win, but with Ali being who he is, there were others who thought he'd be able to pull off some trick or 'Ali magic' such as in the Foreman fight.
     
  8. ThinBlack

    ThinBlack Boxing Addict banned

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    I was seven, thought Ali could pull the trick, was unfortunately wrong, and also came to appreciate Larry Holmes throughout time.
     
  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I was only 5 or 6 years of age at the time of this match, therefore can't possibly comment intelligently on what people were thinking at the time. I do however, have a hard time believing that very many people thought Ali had much of a chance. He looked terrible in the Leon Spinks fights, and those matches were a full two years before meeting Holmes.. In the meantime, Holmes was regularly beating challengers while Ali was retired and who's health was noticably deteriorating from his interviews ( which I've seen years after the fact. ) Addtionally, most fans and experts were well aware of the fact that Holmes had sparred for years with Ali, leaving Muhammad with very little in terms of an edge to experience. Personally, I think Conteh said it best that a lot of people felt Holmes was capable of beating Muhammad Ali sometime around 1978, and incidentally Norton probably was as well.
     
  10. clark

    clark Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I don't think people were aware of how damaged Ali was with the Parkinsons before the Holmes fight. Throw that in with the drugs for weight loss and Ali having no energy and strength during the fight.
    It's amazing Ali even stood in there at all, in his condition.
    Some picked Ali because they did not know his condition at the time.
     
  11. jamel

    jamel Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I remember seeing the Holmes fight against Ray Mercer where he seemed to act like Ali used to. He was clowning with Mercer tapping him on the head and talking to him during the fight. It was humerous seeing an old fox outhustle Mercer and make him look very ordinary.

    I never saw Ali v Holmes then as I was under 2 yrs old at the time. I can imagine though with the aura that surrounded Ali in the eyes of many that some probably thought he could pull it off, but it was really a total mismatch.
     
  12. Dempsey1238

    Dempsey1238 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I sure Ali had people that back him. But thats how it always is.
    Dempsey has the favor vs Tunney.
    Louis shockly was favor over Marciano.
    Sullivian over Corbett.
    And I not sure of the odds of Ali Holmes. Of couse Ali Liston was a heavy favor, and again Liston was favor in the rematch. Patterson over Liston??
     
  13. jamel

    jamel Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Patterson was favourite over Liston WTF, surely the oddsmakers couldn't have got that so wrong could they ? If so I wish I was around then to take the bookies to the cleaners on that one.
     
  14. SteveO

    SteveO MSW Full Member

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    I believe Tyson was the fave in the second Holyfield fight even though he was stopped in their first fight.
     
  15. Arka

    Arka New Member Full Member

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    Apparently, Marciano,Johansson and James Braddock had Floyd to win.
    I don't know why,but in a way, I think they all had their reasons in hoping for a Patterson win.
    Mannie Seamon,who trained Benny Leonard and Joe Louis after Jack Blackburn died ,had Clay to win over Liston in their first fight.A very good call.

    There was still some of that aura left from the eighties.