"Holmes-Ali" of '80 Las Vegas.... Holmes at 211 & Ali at 218 pounds.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MRBILL, Jul 1, 2011.


  1. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Folks,

    I'm reviewing "Holmes-Ali" of 1980 Las Vegas for the helluva it... Yes, a stinker to the max... Holmes was peaked and ready to kill at 211 pounds, while Ali at a very lean 218 pounds with dyed hair and all his jiving tactics, was simply there in spirit at best...

    How the hell did Ali pass a physical in 1980...?? Oh, sure, he looked fit and revitalized in late training camp, but with all the meds and vitamins he was taking leading up to his fight with Larry Holmes, was enough to force Elvis Presley to roll over in his grave...

    Ali had no zip or snap on any shots he threw, however, he still had decent defensive skills and a solid chin / heart to withstand Holmes' heat...

    Ali was weak, drained, faded in speed and reflexes by late 1980... It was sad to see a once ATG champion struggling to box like a pro at age 38 and obviously suffering from Parks syndrome, minus the diagnosis froma doctor at that juncture in time...

    Overall, Larry Holmes was King of the Mountain as champion in 1980... Holmes was clearly the baddest man on the planet on Oct. 2, 1980.... WORD!
    :bbb
    MR.BILL:hat

    NOTE:

    The initial purse money was: Ali (8 million dollars) and Holmes (4 million dollars) but, in the end, due to so-so PPV sales, Don King paid Ali more like $6 million and Holmes saw mere $2 million taxable dollars.....
    :admin:shock::rofl
     
    MRBILL, Jul 1, 2011
    MRBILL, Jul 1, 2011
    #1
  2. kmac

    kmac On permanent vacation Full Member

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    don't know how many of you watched the 30 for 30 doc on this fight but it was pretty good. very sad to see ali like this. i was 6 yrs old when this fight happened and it is the first fight i ever remember watching. this fight was on abc not ppv in 1980.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsIBWQWIk6g[/ame]

    edit, the fight may have been closed circuit and replayed on abc a day later. does anyone remember watching this?
     
    kmac, Jul 1, 2011
    kmac, Jul 1, 2011
    #2
  3. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This fight was PPV in the Los Angeles area by a now obsolete outlet called: "SelecTV" that was in competition with "ON-TV." Back in 1980 the asking subscription price for the event was $15.00 bucks.... Yes, ABC TV did the replay later on with Cosell........

    MR.BILL:deal:hat
     
    MRBILL, Jul 1, 2011
    MRBILL, Jul 1, 2011
    #3
  4. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I also wanna add that while Ali was trim at age 38 and 218 pounds, Holmes pushing age 31 and 211 pounds, appeared tighter and in better overall shape than Ali did, regardless of Ali's dyed jet black hair.... WORD!

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Jul 1, 2011
    MRBILL, Jul 1, 2011
    #4
  5. AnthonyJ74

    AnthonyJ74 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Although Ali took a lot of punishment from Holmes, I think some people overplay the amount of punishment that Ali took. I've seen several fighters take worse beatings. I think Shannon Briggs got beat up far worse against Vitali than did Ali against Holmes.
     
    AnthonyJ74, Jul 1, 2011
    AnthonyJ74, Jul 1, 2011
    #5
  6. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hell, yes....... Briggs took way more leather from V. Klit than Ali did against Holmes....... However, as I said, Ali was a ghost in 1980, but he still had some defense left in his shell..... Briggs' defense was his ability to eat leather.... Leather he ate........ GEEZUS!!
    :roll::shock::patsch:bbb

    MR.BILL:hat
     
    MRBILL, Jul 2, 2011
    MRBILL, Jul 2, 2011
    #6
  7. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    What was most revealing about Ali's appeareance was while he was at roughly the same weight as he was for the George Foreman fight,he looked totally different. For the RITJ,he was toned and ripped,while for the Holmes bout,he looked what he was. Someone who'd lost a lot of weight in a very short time.
    This fight should never have been allowed,obviously.
     
    Stevie G, Jul 2, 2011
    Stevie G, Jul 2, 2011
    #7
  8. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Muhammad's cast iron chin and heart were still in evidence. Quite incredible when you think about it. With Ali's stupidity in taking Thyrolar,and going through the early phases of Parkinson's,still standing up to Holmes' best for nearly ten rounds.
     
    Stevie G, Jul 2, 2011
    Stevie G, Jul 2, 2011
    #8
  9. clark

    clark Well-Known Member Full Member

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    As has been said, Ali was medicated and had Parkinson's Syndrome. He lost the weight quickly
    and had no energy. I think that says it all!
     
    clark, Jul 2, 2011
    clark, Jul 2, 2011
    #9
  10. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali's brain was damaged pre-fight, Holmes damaged it some more, and Berbick damaged it even more.

    And of course we have Commission doctors that allow such fighters to step into the ring.
     
    Longhhorn71, Jul 2, 2011
    Longhhorn71, Jul 2, 2011
    #10
  11. dmille

    dmille We knew, about Tszyu, before you. Full Member

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    Holmes fought the early rounds like he was reluctant to engage. After Ali actually threw something in the sixth & seventh, Larry got down to business. The shots he landed in the eighth were brutal...

    IF Holmes had gone after him from the opening bell the way he did in the eighth round, Ali would have been very lucky to see the third.
     
    dmille, Jul 3, 2011
    dmille, Jul 3, 2011
    #11