How many boxers joined the Muhammad Ali Amateur Club and used his style successfully?

KellyB · Aug 6, 2024

Mr.Noob said: ↑

Anybody else want to list boxers who used the Ali style or fought under the club of Ali.

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I had the joy of traveling with the Muhammad Ali Amateur team and can name most of the guys.

KellyB · Aug 6, 2024

Mr.Noob said: ↑

Throughout the 1960's, 1970's. 1980's, and even the 1990's. Muhammad Ali entertained the crowd for many years with his razor-sharp speed, his sugary sweet style, his scientific methods, and his dazzling footwork always gave the crowd sweet-tooth. However, thought-out all these great battles Ali had, was Muhammad Ali the only boxer to have the dazzling style or were there admirers behind him who danced aside with him? Back in the day, there were some up-coming amateurs in the AAU league who admired or were inspired by the greatest of all time, they would enter the Muhammad Ali Amateur Club to fight for him and want to take on the role of Muhammad 'The Greatest ' Ali (I'll just call it the MAAC for now, if someone has the official name, respond in this thread immediately so I don't look dumb XD.) There were boxers who wanted to take on this title, but it wasn't easy. From what I researched, Tony Tubbs was a major one who join the MAAC and fought Marvis Frazier during the amateur days, at this time Tubbs was representing Muhammad Ali and had the uniform for it as well.

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This match above my head was hard to find but I have it here if you want to watch the match, Tubbs really had that style with him and it was beautiful to watch him. Now it's your guys turn to help me out, we have to make this thread the greatest thread of all time. Let's try to keep it as active as possible. Anyways, during all those golden aged years, list the boxers that you know who represented the great Ali during these magnificent years. This isn't just a list, this is a Muhammad Ali related thread so everybody can only talk about the Greatest and only the greatest. My note is done, make sure to list some, just some boxers who were in the amateur that fought in the hands of the Ali gym and don't let this thread die out.

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= 17:26 Timestamp

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(Both use the same dazzling style, Darin was the pressure boxer this time)

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(For the poll, make sure not to vote the name of the fights, just vote for the name of the fighters you think won!)
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Happy to find this. I had the pleasure of traveling with Muhammad and the incredibly talented Muhammad Ali Amateur Boxing Team (Muhammad Ali Amateur Sports - MAAS) and have many memories and photos from those days. We also had a Muhammad Ali Track Club. It all fell apart with two occurances. 1. President Carter boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics so most of the amateurs who were working toward becoming US Olympians turned pro. The second thing was when Harold Smith President of Ali SPorts was arrested for embezzling $23 million from Wells Fargo Bank.

KellyB · Aug 6, 2024

Mr.Noob said: ↑

Throughout the 1960's, 1970's. 1980's, and even the 1990's. Muhammad Ali entertained the crowd for many years with his razor-sharp speed, his sugary sweet style, his scientific methods, and his dazzling footwork always gave the crowd sweet-tooth. However, thought-out all these great battles Ali had, was Muhammad Ali the only boxer to have the dazzling style or were there admirers behind him who danced aside with him? Back in the day, there were some up-coming amateurs in the AAU league who admired or were inspired by the greatest of all time, they would enter the Muhammad Ali Amateur Club to fight for him and want to take on the role of Muhammad 'The Greatest ' Ali (I'll just call it the MAAC for now, if someone has the official name, respond in this thread immediately so I don't look dumb XD.) There were boxers who wanted to take on this title, but it wasn't easy. From what I researched, Tony Tubbs was a major one who join the MAAC and fought Marvis Frazier during the amateur days, at this time Tubbs was representing Muhammad Ali and had the uniform for it as well.

This content is protected

This match above my head was hard to find but I have it here if you want to watch the match, Tubbs really had that style with him and it was beautiful to watch him. Now it's your guys turn to help me out, we have to make this thread the greatest thread of all time. Let's try to keep it as active as possible. Anyways, during all those golden aged years, list the boxers that you know who represented the great Ali during these magnificent years. This isn't just a list, this is a Muhammad Ali related thread so everybody can only talk about the Greatest and only the greatest. My note is done, make sure to list some, just some boxers who were in the amateur that fought in the hands of the Ali gym and don't let this thread die out.

This content is protected

------------------------------------------------------------------
= 17:26 Timestamp

This content is protected

------------------------------------------------------------------
(Both use the same dazzling style, Darin was the pressure boxer this time)

This content is protected

(For the poll, make sure not to vote the name of the fights, just vote for the name of the fighters you think won!)
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we had Tony Tubbs, Tony Tucker, Purcell Davis, Davey Armstrong, Bernard, Jeff (Whaley or Chandler - or maybe both... it's been a long time), JB Williamson, Danny Avery, Robert Shannon, ... I think there were 12.

KellyB · Aug 7, 2024

Mr.Noob said: ↑

I put so much effort in this thread so let's hope it doesn't die out XD!
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a little late, but here for it.

KellyB · Aug 7, 2024

Dubblechin said: ↑

I get the feeling we aren't talking about the same thing (LOL).

Darrin Allen wasn't a member of the Muhammad Ali Boxing club. Neither was Tyrell Biggs.

There was an actual boxing club called the Muhammad Ali Boxing club. It wasn't started by Ali. Ali didn't train them. They didn't have to box like Muhammad Ali. Harold Smith - a guy who embezzled $20 million from a bank - formed Muhammad Ali Professional Sports (MAPS). Ali's involvement was Smith gave Ali money to use his name. And, occasionally, Ali would show up to an event. There was an amateur boxing club. There was a track team. A gym. And there were some professional boxers - like Scott Ledoux, Michael Spinks, Tommy Hearns, Gerry Cooney - who allowed Smith to promote them for a couple fights.

Smith founded it in the org in 1979. By 1981, it was over. Smith was arrested for stealing $21 million and went to prison. Ali's rep was badly damaged.

The only guy who really stayed in contact with Smith when he was in prison was Tubbs. Some said Smith guided Tony's career from prison. The rest of the team all scattered. Smith was in jail all thru the 80s. At the end of the decade, he got parole. And he tried to sign Roy Jones. Actually, when Al Haymon first arrived on the scene and was trying to advise boxers and sign fighters but wouldn't allow himself to be photographed, I thought Haymon was actually Harold Smith (LOL). But he wasn't.

Anyway, that's what I was referring to ... the actual Muhammad Ali Boxing club which did exist for a couple years. But Ali really had nothing to do with it other than lend his name.

Harold Smith provided all the money. Paid the trainers. Paid for the gym. Paid for housing where the fighters could live. Paid the amateur boxers so they'd sign up. Threw big coke parties to show them he was a fun guy. The boxers loved him. (Oh, Robert Shannon was another member of the team as an amateur, until the club folded.)

Maybe I'm wrong, but you seem to be looking for guys who boxed like Muhammad Ali. That had nothing to do with the actual Muhammad Ali Boxing club. Boxing like Ali was "NOT" a requirement. (LOL)
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_________

I was an Ali Angel at this time, paid by Harold (MAAS and MAPS), and while you are largely correct about Harold, Muhammad did have much more of a presence and mentoring relationship with these young fighters than many knew. He was always available to them and eager to guide them as young men. Muhammad wasn't involved in the business end or actual training, however in Tony Tubbs' case, they were very close and Tony sparred at Deer Lake with Muhammad leading up to the Spinks rematch.

Dubblechin · Aug 7, 2024

KellyB said: ↑

_________

I was an Ali Angel at this time, paid by Harold (MAAS and MAPS), and while you are largely correct about Harold, Muhammad did have much more of a presence and mentoring relationship with these young fighters than many knew. He was always available to them and eager to guide them as young men. Muhammad wasn't involved in the business end or actual training, however in Tony Tubbs' case, they were very close and Tony sparred at Deer Lake with Muhammad leading up to the Spinks rematch.
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Good to know.

Welcome to the site.

Nick N · Feb 17, 2025

KellyB said: ↑

we had Tony Tubbs, Tony Tucker, Purcell Davis, Davey Armstrong, Bernard, Jeff (Whaley or Chandler - or maybe both... it's been a long time), JB Williamson, Danny Avery, Robert Shannon, ... I think there were 12.
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Don't forget Chuck Robinson! Sadly died in the plane crash in Poland :-(

Nick N · Feb 17, 2025

KellyB said: ↑

_________

I was an Ali Angel at this time, paid by Harold (MAAS and MAPS), and while you are largely correct about Harold, Muhammad did have much more of a presence and mentoring relationship with these young fighters than many knew. He was always available to them and eager to guide them as young men. Muhammad wasn't involved in the business end or actual training, however in Tony Tubbs' case, they were very close and Tony sparred at Deer Lake with Muhammad leading up to the Spinks rematch.
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Agree with Kelly...You are mostly correct, Harold paid for everything, but Ali showed up alot. I was a freelance graphic designer who did all the posters/ads/radio for MAAS/MAPS starting with the track meet in January 1980 and ending with the Thomas Hearns vs Pipino Cuevas fight in August 1980. Stopped by to pickup my check for the advertising work I did for the Hearns/Cuevas fight and found the office shut down and learned about what Harold and his wife Lee had done. Got to travel to Hawaii with Ali and the amatuer team when the kids fought the Hawaiian all-stars, and San Diego for the match with the Marines fight team. And went to Port Townsend to help arrange the memorial for Chuck Robinson. Ali showed up for all of it. Was at the gym in Main Street in Santa Monica watching him work out with the fighters too. He gave alot more than his name. Not sure who in the organization knew what Harold was up to, but for me and my girlfriend at the time (She did publicity) it was a gut punch/shocker. Harold and Lee treated us fairly, but never saw that coming.

Boxed Ears · Feb 17, 2025

Mitch Green used to bleed green. That is why they called him Mitch "The Vulcan" Green.

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How many boxers joined the Muhammad Ali Amateur Club and used his style successfully?

Ali vs Frazier| Tumble Rumble In the Jungle| Who won all three fights in your opinion?

Muhammad Ali {Cassius Clay}

Joe Frazier {Smokin Joe}

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How many boxers joined the Muhammad Ali Amateur Club and used his style successfully?

Ali vs Frazier| Tumble Rumble In the Jungle| Who won all three fights in your opinion?

Muhammad Ali {Cassius Clay}

Joe Frazier {Smokin Joe}

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