It was a case of certain fighters that seemed to give him harder or should I say more awkward fights. But, more or less he always found a way to win.
How Spinks was chosen for a title shot is interesting itself. Consider all the other contenders around at the time. Or possible rematches with the 3 recent close calls for the Ali camp---Norton or Young or Shavers. We got the Evangelista fight though. Then Spinks. And Leon came out of a 10 round draw with drum roll please.............Scott Ledoux. So a draw with Ledoux gets you a title shot.
I don't think it does a lot of anything either way. He lost to him but avenged, Leon was pretty average tho quite energetic and at the end of the day Ali was a shell.
I've always considered Muhammad's legacy done and dusted after he won the title for the second time by beating George Foreman in Zaire. This was solidified after the third bout with Joe Frazier. Anything following that,in my opinion,had no bearing whatsoever on his standing.
Definitely Stevie. He took on coopman, which was basically a walk in the park. Jimmy Young fight was terrible, could have lost that one if Young didn't fight so negative. Dunn, say no more. Lol Norton. So lucky to win that. Evangelista even managed to go the distance. Shavers had him hurt and surprised a lot of people. A Prime Ali for me stops Shavers in a one sided affair. Then Leon, who struck gold being the guy who finally beat "The Greatest ''
"third time lucky". legacywise the spinks win added another "first" to ali´s record. becoming the first 3 time world heavyweight champion was the culmination of his long and succesful career and so it entered the history books. the win was historical and nothing better could have happened to muhammad towards the end of his glorious profession. not healthwise - of course - as we know now. but legacywise. if i remember right, floy patterson was the first (heavyweight) champion who broke the unwritten boxing rule "they never come back" (correct me, if i´m wrong). ali becoming the first 3 time champ has a mystical and magical quality, which matches his legendary status at the top. "all good things come in three".
It was a fiasco, Ken Norton was Ali's mandatory challenger going into 1978. The Spinks fight was supposed to be a tune up, Ali should have either fought Norton again or retired. So in my opinion it did hurt his legacy.
The first fight was premediated IMO. He scrapped by Norton JUST while he was shot, now with all kinds of new damage he wanted to go out as the only man so far to reclaim the title 3 times and with a winning record against Kenny. Spinks made for a good fairy-tale ending Ali was a lot but he never lacked showmanship.
The Spinks loss did not hurt Alis legacy even at the time, and most definitely not after he beat Spinks in return bout. Alis legacy was indelibly imprinted in annals of boxing history long while before the Spinks bout. As a wet behind the ears teen fresh out basic recruit training, the image of Spinks being held aloft by his cornermen with his arms raised in victory over Ali, was to me at the time the epitome of a real life Rocky scenario. Yes Ali entered record books as 3 time champ, but those last few fights sure did not do Ali any favours regarding his neurological issues.
He was ripe for the taking.......Spinks simply outhustled Ali. Leon was motivated and hungry. Ali was a shell. He was lucky to escape Norton in 76. Another fight would have been ugly. I have never seen the Shavers fight. Will watch it tonight. Anyways----the rematch with Leon showed some of the brilliance in Ali. Does anyone remember the article in a magazine----"Did Ali lose on purpose?"
Helped him, for sure. Spinks made Ali become a three times champion. The same did Ruiz with Joshua and Wilder with Fury, even if they got 2 times WC.
