There was a badminton game at the London Olympics where both the Chinese and Korean teams tried to lose so they'd get a better draw through to the gold medal round - the match was halted and both were DQed >>> [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74aHgmIM6F8&feature=fvwrel[/ame]
I would never call a ATG a fraud, they had to be great to do what they did in the ring, but if giving the choice, and it pains me to say this, but perhaps Dempsey. Guys like Ali, Marciano, Louis, even Tyson, Lewis, Wlad ete, they all fight the best, and duck no one, You cant say that with Dempsey. Harry Wills was the number 1 guy for 7 years in a row and he didnt even got a sniff at the title. People may hate on Marciano, but at least he didnt have a number 1 guy waiting for a title shot his entire title rein. He would lose points in my book if he never fought Moore imo. I not asking Dempsey to win vs Wills, but he should have been taken care of before taking on the likes of Firpo. I talking ATG here, Not really going to bring up the Carnera's or Baers mind you.
Bob Arum - Snake River Canyon Jump with Evel Knievel. This content is protected Pat O'Grady - Phony Championships, and plastic fighters. Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki - Boxer vs Wrestler in Japan. Howard Cosell - Third-rate Lawyer from Brooklyn.
O'Grady may of been at the forefront of the idea, but others soon overtook him. That was Ali being stupid, and not being prepared to be involved in a 'work'. Thus the fact it was not, made it a terrible 'bore', but certainly no 'fraud'. Although I would concede if you paid money to watch it Closed Circuit, you may beg to differ. We (The Brits) got it free on Terrestrial (Network) TV.
It was one of the more stupid things that Ali did. He developed blood clots from the kicks and a case of phlebitis that he still has.
Evel Knievel was pulling in 'bigger bucks' than Muhammad Ali. It wasn't even close, as Evel pulled in $6,000,000 for the 1974 Snake River Canyon Jump. Then he made another $30,000,000 off of merchandise marketing. Evel told Muhammad Ali, you just can't fight these guys, getting your brains smashed. Do something big, fight some Japanese Wrestler or a Russian Weight-lifter. Fight Bruce Lee if you have to. The public wants it, they're stupid. They'll buy anything.
And just what clown do you think promoted this farce...... Mr. Integrity..........Bob Arum.............atsch
The best man in the ring that night in Japan, Referee - Gene LeBell He wrote an article about how the fans threw garbage on Muhammad Ali as he left the ring. The Japanese people wanted their money back, and called Ali a 'coward'. The bout was to be protrayed as a boxer vs. a wrestler, but the rules were not disclosed until both 'actors' entered the ring. The buying public had no knowledge of what the rules were. A consultant to this fiasco, Vince McMahon who was an advisor for Bob Arum. Thank God Bruce Lee wasn't alive, otherwise they would have had a bout between him and Muhammad Ali. And the public, would have bought it.
Bob Arum and Vince McMahon conniving together atsch It's a wonder it wasn't an even bigger farce - assuming that was actually possible