Cassius Clay vs Alex Miteff (How Much Did They Pay Alex To Take A Dive)

Lord Tywin · Feb 22, 2013

He made up half of what he posted.

hhascup · Feb 23, 2013

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Ring 8 Boxing Historian & President of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Henry Hascup introduced former World Heavyweight contender, Alex Miteff, who fought Muhammad Ali, Jerry Quarry, and Eddie Machen, and beat Nino Valdes and fought a draw against George Chuvalo.

http://www.ring8ny.com/?s=alex+miteff

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Bokaj · Feb 23, 2013

kmiteff said: ↑

For the record, as far as anyone is concerned, my dad did not "take a dive" when he fought Clay. He would have found even the offer revolting and it would have been a dark day for anyone to even suggest such a thing to him.

I had a conversation many years ago with my dad about his fight with Clay and he revealed to me that -- what is obvious to some on this forum -- that he had already pretty much given up on the fight game. He said that he had fought over 125 amateur fights in Argentina before he came here, starting at the age of 16, and he was already "tired" of it. I asked him -- point blank -- if he ever wanted to be World Champion. His face suddenly changed expression, like he had never even thought to ask himself this question before -- I'll never forget it because it was so uncharacteristic of him to show that kind of uncertainty for more than an instant. His ultimate conclusion: "Nahhhh. Not really, no. I was already so tired of the whole thing by that time..." When I relayed this later to my mother, never the rah rah supporter of my dad that she thinks she was, she was quick to point out, "your father was a fantastic fighter... amazing to watch... a little flat on his feet, but he moved his body and hands so fast... incredible... but he was fighting a lot of smaller people back in Argentina. When he got [to the U.S.], they threw all these big American monsters at him and they wore him down too much..." She seems to think the turning point for my dad was his fight with Mike DeJohn (although her memory may be off). She said DeJohn saw defeating my dad as his "ticket" and that my father did not train or take the DeJohn fight seriously enough. She said that DeJohn hurt my dad so bad in that fight that he was "never the same", which I have always found to be a disturbing statement.

As far as my dad and Ali, they always seemed to enjoy each others company when ever they would meet and my dad never said anything bad about him. The bombastic Ali you see on the newsreels and movies didn't jibe with what I saw and how my dad felt about him. He seemed a real cool guy out of the media's eye. Ali once confided that he was spitting blood for days after all the body blows he took in their fight, the only time that ever happened to him. I doubt my dad was pulling his punches. Ali/Clay didn't think so.

My mother, once again not one to miss giving an opinion, after seeing the Clay vs. Miteff fight again after many years commented, "You see, he is doing that stupid thing, sticking out his chin. He thought he could get away with it, like it's funny and -- BAM! -- Ali got him good. I told him to stop doing idiotic stuff like that..." (translated from my mom's rapid fire Spanish)

My dad always said my mom was his toughest opponent!

Karim Miteff
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Beautiful post and a terrific read. Thanks!

choklab · Feb 24, 2013

hhascup said: ↑

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Ring 8 Boxing Historian & President of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Henry Hascup introduced former World Heavyweight contender, Alex Miteff, who fought Muhammad Ali, Jerry Quarry, and Eddie Machen, and beat Nino Valdes and fought a draw against George Chuvalo.

http://www.ring8ny.com/?s=alex+miteff

Just click on any picture to make it larger.
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wow! incredible that hes still around.

ron u.k. · Feb 24, 2013

jdempsey85 said: ↑

the infamous senor pepe now posts as ill duce over at boxrec
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He used that name on here before he changed to Señor Pepe

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Cassius Clay vs Alex Miteff (How Much Did They Pay Alex To Take A Dive)

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Cassius Clay vs Alex Miteff (How Much Did They Pay Alex To Take A Dive)

Lord Tywin Guest

hhascup Boxing Addict Full Member

Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

ron u.k. Boxing Addict banned