Did Muhammad Ali train during his exile?

Seriously?

 

Yes, seriously. My legs didn't degenerate between the ages of 25 and 28, in fact there were no changes whatsoever in b\my physical shape...why should Ali's legs atrophy? He wasn't the same fighter, I think we can all agree on that. WTF was he doing to lose his speed?
He was still a young man by any one's estimation. There should have been no physical degradation. I'm not talking about ring shape; of course you have to be in better shape, but to "lose his legs"? His hand speed?

Now between the ages of 28 and 69 is another story for me.

 

Ali still had decent footwork in the 2nd Norton fight and the Chuvalo rematch. When people say his legs were "gone" it's an exaggeration but what they mean is, compared to how he was in the 60's he was much slower. It's not that he rapidly aged in 3 years, the lack of training meant his timing and coordination weren't as good. There's a difference between running in a straight line and being like a matador dodging an opponent in 3 dimensions and avoiding getting stuck in the corner, it's an art not just physical.

That, and Ali not only gained more weight but he also got lazier and lazier in the 70's. More weight means less energy and puts more strain on the legs. Finding out he had a great chin, that he could take tremendous body punishment, and knowing the judges would usually give him close rounds were 3 ingredients that became a blessing and a curse at the same. If you know you can take a good shot, you may subconsciously start to get lazy with defense and evasion.

 

Very early stage Parkinson's syndrome.

 

If he did any training, it was casual and halfhearted; when he stepped into the ring against Quarry, he looked OK and in good shape for a guy his age - but he wasn't in boxing shape. Like a lot of fighters, he was a priest to his training on the way up to, and defending his title - but without that motivation, there was no point to all that work. I never saw Ali as someone who ever trained just for the sake of it, or derived any pleasure from it. He did it because he was getting paid to do so. No pay, no work. He stepped it back up as he came back, and got in good shape, but anyone who trains consistently can tell you - after a layoff like that, you're never the same. The body starts to atrophy in those years. Consistent training keeps that in check. I think that's why he never looked quite as good as before the exile.

 

You think so? At 28? Wow...that actually makes sense seeing how different a fighter he was post exile.

 

This is precisely the case. Ali said out of his own mouth "I hated every minute of training. But I said to myself deal with the pain and live the rest of your life as champion". He was by no means a fitness freak or a lover of hard work. In fact, he bragged about how little he trained for some fights knowing the guy wasn't on his level "you saw how badly I whooped him. Could you imagine what would happen if I actually trained hard?".

I don't know if it was just a drunken trash talking moment so I don't know how true it is, but Larry Holmes made the astonishing claim Ali only trained for 2 weeks for Zaire. The clip is on YouTube and Ali neither confirms nor denies it but has a slight grin.

 

Larry's a bit unclear if he means Manilla or Zaire as I recall. I think he starts talking about Zaire, but it sounds like he ends up on Manilla or something to that effect. That was the feeling I got at least.

Edit: He says "Manilla" and then corrects himself and says "Africa".

 

I think this nails it. He didn't balloon up and/or go down the tubes, but he wasn't in great shape either.

 

The quote about Ali hating every minute of training cannot possibly be applied to the early years - 1960-1967 - where it is clearly evident from the old footage that he did enjoy his training. Anybody who trains regularly and develops their physique, increases their strength and improves their fitness must surely enjoy the very thing that has caused this change - particularly when you become very good at something.
Pre exile Ali was in top condition for a heavyweight fighter. However, during the exile, he was quite simply occupied with the realities of life: needing to find an income, touring the country, the legal case etc. All of which took a far greater toll on him than what is often mentioned.
Post exile Ali was physically different. As an earlier poster mentioned, Ali realised that he could absorb significant punishment and in his increasing "celebrity" status meant that he no longer trained as hard, nor did he want to. I am sure he could have returned to at least 95% of where he was in 1967 had he dedicated himself to the gym - but the fact is that he did not. He even started to look a little fat post Frazier 1 and never shifted the excess until the second Norton fight. He maintained his conditioning until after the Foreman fight and then went back to being "fat". But he was still.winning so he probably didn't care.

Never-the-less, the dazzling speed, stamina and reflexes apparent during the 60s could never have been maintained indefinitely. We can see that with all athletes who rely upon that type of movement. Eventually, time erodes their speed. If the forced exile had not occured, Ali would have been able to maintain his dancing style until the early seventies at least and would have remained undefeated. I believe his first defeat would have happened as a result of his neglect in training rather than having an opponent who was superior...which is why Floyd Mayweather is such a remarkable boxer - he maintained his dedication to his craft throughout his career, but that is another story!

 

With all due respect, each individual is different. Ali only sparred during his enforced layoff from boxing, March 22 1967- Oct 26 1970, he was 25 years old when the layoff began, he was 28 years old when he returned to fight Jerry Quarry. He had footwork, reflexes, stamina, and speed. Ali had his own rhythm during his prime years, 1964-1967. Sparring are not actual fights, 15 rounders, he did balloon in weight, he was on the lecture circuit at various colleges to pay his legal team, to fight his draft conviction in court. A fighter does lose his legs first when inactive, it was too bad. But I admire him for standing up for what he believed in.

 

I'm no neurologist but I do have formal training in neuroscience (which as it happens is not particularly useful here). That said, I do happen to know that Parkinson's and Parkinson's syndrome can manifest subtle symptoms for many years before full onset. I'm about 80% sure I've read (from a source I would have considered reputable even if I can't presently recall it) that a slight stiffness and awkwardness in the legs is a not uncommon early symptom.

 

He trained for 8 weeks, listen to the full quote

This content is protected

 

Re: the Foreman fight -

Even if Ali had only planned to train for two weeks, which I doubt, with the five-week postponement due to Foreman's cut, Ali had more time to train. By all accounts he used that time wisely.

Per Ali's autobiography (which I realize he might not have had anything to do with, maybe), he took Foreman seriously. I haven't read it since I was a kid, but I recall a pretty inspiring chapter detailing his intense preparation for the bout.