http://www.***********.com/culled-from-canastota-five-who-lose-hall-pass--44795 what a bunch of ****. that lyle fitzsimmons guy at the scene has lost any credibility if he ever had any in the first place. read this garbage if you want a laugh at the scene.
I would go for "he never had any in the first place". It's all about stirring people up and getting some viewers. This is the same guy who keeps voting Sven Ottke to the IBHOF every year. He must be having a laugh.
D same morons who voted Norton , Pep & Norris in and left Julian Jackson , Sim Thompkins , Marlon Starling & Simon Brown out . Morons being polite .
I've expressed the view before that Joe would belong even if he permanently retired after Bob Foster. (Actually, as the second undisputed, undefeated HW Champion to walk away after Marciano, his eventual HOF entry would have been guaranteed.) If the medical fact of his bad eye had been discovered and revealed prior to the FOTC, he would have been forced into permanent retirement as Ali was into exile, then nobody anywhere could have validly accused him of ducking Ali's 1971 challenge. He stepped into the void left by Ali's exile, a horrible situation for boxing at a time the sport was struggling, and elevated himself from minority NYSAC Title recognition to unquestioned supremacy as the top heavyweight in boxing as the 1970s began. This was nearly two decades before Tyson also did it with his first title run. (Ditto for Schmeling, even taking away the rivalry with Louis, especially if WW II hadn't prevented Max from European boxing dominance through the first half of the 1940s. Take away Hitler, and the combat injuries Schmeling suffered at Crete, and there wouldn't be a debate today about whether or not Max should be rated over Sharkey with Schmeling's additional resume.) Unlike the canonized Arguello at the end of his rematch with Pryor, Smoke never, ever quit, even when faced twice with the Foreman wrecking ball. (Don't ever forget that Joe did climb in the ring with George a second time, in sharp contrast to Norton, and when there was no world title at stake.) Today, we know he had problems with vision, arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney problems and early onset obesity, yet he made himself into an Olympic and World Champion. (Don't overlook that broken thumb in his vaunted left entering the Gold Medal finale at Tokyo. Guts, guts, GUTS!)
[quote=Duodenum;11081071]I've expressed the view before that Joe would belong even if he permanently retired after Bob Foster. (Actually, as the second undisputed, undefeated HW Champion to walk away after Marciano, his eventual HOF entry would have been guaranteed.) If the medical fact of his bad eye had been discovered and revealed prior to the FOTC, he would have been forced into permanent retirement as Ali was into exile, then nobody anywhere could have validly accused him of ducking Ali's 1971 challenge. He stepped into the void left by Ali's exile, a horrible situation for boxing at a time the sport was struggling, and elevated himself from minority NYSAC Title recognition to unquestioned supremacy as the top heavyweight in boxing as the 1970s began. This was nearly two decades before Tyson also did it with his first title run. (Ditto for Schmeling, even taking away the rivalry with Louis, especially if WW II hadn't prevented Max from European boxing dominance through the first half of the 1940s. Take away Hitler, and the combat injuries Schmeling suffered at Crete, and there wouldn't be a debate today about whether or not Max should be rated over Sharkey with Schmeling's additional resume.) Unlike the canonized Arguello at the end of his rematch with Pryor, Smoke never, ever quit, even when faced twice with the Foreman wrecking ball. (Don't ever forget that Joe did climb in the ring with George a second time, in sharp contrast to Norton, and when there was no world title at stake.) Today, we know he had problems with vision, arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney problems and early onset obesity, yet he made himself into an Olympic and World Champion. (Don't overlook that broken thumb in his vaunted left entering the Gold Medal finale at Tokyo. Guts, guts, GUTS!)[/quote] Imagine what Joe's place in the annals of boxing greats would be if he had wisely retired after the FOTC!
This is like saying John McEnroe doesn't belong in the tennis HOF or Mario Lemieux doesn't belong in the hockey HOF or Dan Marino doesn't belong in the football HOF. Each was compared to another great rival in their sport at the same time. Mac had Bjorn Borg, Lemieux had Gretzky, Marino had Montana. Frazier had Ali. End of discussion.
