In which fight was Ali hurt the most?

His body and career were over after thrilla. But he legit was almost knocked out by Cooper.

 

Against Antonio Inoki (1976).

The Japanese for the occasion wore boots with steel laces. Ali suffered a considerable amount of kicks so much that he risked having one of his leg amputated after the fight. Facts...not known by many.

(From Wikipedia) "Ali's left leg was so badly swollen and bleeding that it led to an infection. He also suffered two blood clots in his legs affecting his mobility for the remainder of his boxing career. At one point amputation was also discussed, although Ali insisted to the press that it was nothing serious".

 

I think the Holmes fight. He was hurt in that one in ways far worse than physical pain or damage.

 

It just goes to show that its the shots that you don't see coming.

 

I think that Muhammad Ali was very hurt at different times in the Fight Of The Century against champion Joe Frazier on March 8 1971. Who can forget that nasty left hook that Joe connected on Ali's already swollen jaw in round 11. Then came round 15, and Frazier connected with his wicked left hook again, sending Ali to the canvas. Despite being troubled by the snappy blows thrown by Ali, Frazier scored the knockdown to seal the victory between these two greats that had a claim to the title, Ali never lost his title in the ring, and Frazier earned the title in Ali's absence, this victory cemented Joe's claim.

 

I remember that Muhammad Ali stated when he fought Joe Frazier, in The Thrilla in Manila in Sept 1975, that he compared that fight to what death must feel like.

 

If you read what I have written and disagree that's fine but do not assume I am not well versed in boxing because I think Foremans overrated H2H. I am not sure why this bothers people so much but I have a feeling I know why. With what I have said and how you have responded no offence maybe it is you needs to watch more boxing?

 

Boxing 101 right there.

 

The Cooper fight.

 

Frazier hurt him the worst in their first fight. Then Cooper. Then Bonavena.

 

Shavers. I think if Earnie was a better finisher it would have been a KO loss.

 

1) Nothing I said indicated I felt you are not well versed in boxing because you believe Foreman is overrated H2H.
You very unusual opinion & where you have no *rebuttal* for all the reasons I described that Ali fought a great fight, & very few fighters up to that point (& not many later) would have been likely to beat Foreman that night made me think it is likely you did not know much about that fight.

2) I did not say about your knowledge about boxing in general-although i have no idea-but when you supply no response to various posts in this thread about the ring conditions & the brilliance & unusual capacity of Ali to implement said strategy, it is either you do not know....
Or you have a large bias.

3) Please do not respond to me as "people" unless the category you describe applies to me.
Notice who is saying what to you. Again, I had no explicit or implicit complaint about your historical rating of Foreman.

4) I have never even given my opinion on this website of where I rank Foreman H2H.
So your "I think I know why" (&why not be explicit about what you mean?) cannot apply to me. Again, notice *who* you are speaking to.

5) What on earth about what i said would have you respond that I need to watch more boxing?
It sounds like you got defensive & repeated what you *thought* I said to you.
Be specific, do not complain about past critics or imagined enemies.
What was it about what I said would make you wonder about that?

And please do not forget to address the other points.
Thank you.

 

I have already said what I have said, the ring and conditions applied to both fighters why mention it? Ali had no plans to stick and move Ali fought a similar fight to Peralta I doubt it was an on the spot thought. You can put them both in a different ring wherever you like and Ali would have won George was simply not good enough he was not KOing Ali, outboxeing or outlasting him It was his defining win but not his best it said a lot more about Foreman then Ali in my eyes. George was inexperienced some debut fighters have more rounds under the belt then Foreman in zaire he looked great against choice opponents but when he was put in against people his size, who were durable and who could fight he looked like a different fighter.

 

You did not contest much of what i showed, so I will answer what you are able to engage...

1) I mention the ring conditions for the obvious reason that a small ring that is soft is *much worse* for the boxer & faster man!
Ali was asked "why fight FOreman in a phone booth"? Just like if it was a lively & very large ring, we should note the large dvantage for Ali.

2) You are factually wrong that Ali had no plans to stick & move.
See "When We Were Kings" & many sources. Ali said he quickly realized that he would tire & Foreman could take 1 step for every 2 Ali did for evasion (when it was both impossible to move as fast, & less room to maneuver).

3) The only way it was not improvised is in the sense that Ali had practiced for an eventuality where he needed to weather the storm & take punches from Foreman.
The movie shows famous sportswriter George Plimpton watching Ali practice the Rope-a;Dope "like a man leaning out of a window to see a floor above him". But it was only deployed when it was the best strategy for victory in a very tough environment for a boxer-type.

4) Ali said that he was out on his feet once or twice.
He may well not have won absent the aditive & illegal value of the holding behin the neck & pulling down.
Even with a great chin, & blocking many haymakers, & rolling with them expertly & absorbing much on his arms & shoulders.
Of course Ali was not gonna win without a superb effort-in terms of heart, physical abilities & strategy.

5) Some debut fighters have more rounds than Foreman did? Only if they had an extensive amateur background-although that is a somewhat different challenge, partially transferable to the pro game. Foreman was 40-0 with 37 KOs: while he had not faced many long grueling fights, he was an Olympic Champion & nothing like a novice.

5) A slight adjustment to your theorem: when he was put against someone his size, durable & had World Class skills he looked different.
But you fail to realize that this is a rare combination.
Even with all these talents, at least in those ring conditions, almost nobody else was gonna survive & be victorious.
That does not even touch the pre-fight psychological manipulation, & trash talk by Ali in the ring.
Nobody on *Earth* was likely to do it at that time.

Hell, Ali was almost toppled, but Foreman did not know it.

 

*Sigh*