Has a boxer ever been in a worse condition before a fight than Ali before he fought Holmes?

Bob Fitzsimmons going in against Jack Johnson deserves a mention. Bob had torn ligaments in his right elbow which made that arm useless. And, on top of that, Bob was a shell of his former self.

 

Seems obvious but Schaaf. Earlier fights directly contributed to his death. It wasn't just that night he was a point fighter fighting top guys over and over. And therein is the reason Ali looked so bad he'd been fighting a full 12 or 15 rounds most of his fights over and over and over again. He took so much damage against Foreman and that was one of his shortest fights of the past decade. Besides Foreman that whole group aged terribly because they were constantly going to war. And as the one with a belt, world or NABF Ali is the one who went to war more than any of them.

Someone with a belt or title claim Ali might really be the worst one. Iv'e read Peter Jackson was in bad shape before fighting Jeffries he had taken 5 years off. But he was fighting Jeffries and we are relying on words so its hard to gague. Sullivan fought that guy Jimmy Elliot in his 40s or 50s who was just trying to make money and didn't belong in ring.

Fitz I think is more a weaker version of George Foreman thing where he lasted as long as he possibly could have because he only had a few tough fights and typically KO'd guys quick. In the 19th century where people aged so terribly he was a smaller skinny 45+ year old man boxing the best in the world. 45-50 is kind of the aging rubicon especially back then. It makes sense him looking terrible.

 

@janitor who was that nearly dying fellow who fought Jack Dempsey? He wanted the money for his family and JD did it as a favour.

 

I think you mean Billy Miske.

 

Two that sprang to mind:

Langford fighting multiple fights essential blind against Wills.

Joe Gans fighting great lightweights while likely suffering from a collapsed lung.

 

Roberto Duran before the second fight with Ray Leonard.
Terrible, terrible, terrible stories surrounding that one.

 

Like?

 

SAD

 

Nonsense.
Duran never the entirety of his career has ever
been in as bad of shape as Ali was his last
couple fights. Duran never displayed being
shot at any time, just noticeably slowed.
Ali was arguably shot as early as the
Shavers fight and was clearly beginning showing
signs of the disease that would eventually kill him.

 

Duran himself said he weighed 196 pounds about five or six weeks before the fight. Arcel wanted to postpone it but was told Duran would be stripped of the title.

 

Toluco Lopez was a massively talented bantamweight out of Mexico. One of these guys like Manuel Ortiz and Mando Ramos who could get by with natural talent even when not in the best of shape. Well, Toluco developed an affinity for an indigenous Mexican booze called Pulque and imbibed heavily. He showed up for a bout with an American clubfighter named Willie Parker half in the bag and paid heavily for it. So hung-over, he caught a body shot in the 9th that not only decked him but the sh*t just rolled down his leg. He was not only stopped but humiliated in front of his fans. He whipped himself into immaculate shape for the rematch and all reports said he boxed like a master in winning the decision. But he was a parody of himself in that first fight.

 

Bumphus against Honeyghan was pretty much helpless.

 

Though considerable, in no way does that exceed Ali’s condition, IMO.

 

Now I know why this guy was banned.

 

Wilder is the guy that accused his old trainer of basically sabotaging him when he looked after his health. DW makes his own choices.