Lyle Alzado vs Hafþór Björnsson

mr. magoo · Oct 26, 2021

cross_trainer said: ↑

@mr. magoo probably knows more about him than I do, but Alzado was known in the football community for being tough and aggressive as a player within the sport. He apparently also was known for streetfighting off the playing fields, and was willing to fight Ali on short notice and actually make it a serious fight. (Alzado presumably didn't know when he accepted the fight that Ali wouldn't train.)

This doesn't necessarily negate your earlier point that Alzado was a bully and a thug, though. The two aren't mutually exclusive, IMO; both you and Magoo may be right.

EDIT: I do feel compelled to point out, in fairness to Alzado, that we hadn't seen the Holmes bout yet when Alzado fought Ali. IIRC, Ali and Alzado fought in 79. The 1980 Holmes fight, and the decline it made obvious, was still in the future.
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Alzado definitely had a fighter’s mentality. Bjornson is without a doubt an intimidating specimen and one of the strongest men in the world and perhaps even ever. But I’ve never heard much about him being involved in contact sports. Alzado actually enjoyed violence and was well accustomed to banging heads with physical monsters.

Journeyman92 · Oct 26, 2021

Saintpat said: ↑

Ali was not known to be brain damaged at this time.

You can retroactively look and say ‘I see all the signs’ but the Mayo Clinic and UCLA medical center both did complete work ups on him and cleared him to fight after this. It’s easy to know how he ended up and then say ‘I see all the clues’ but at the time this wasn’t a thing.

Much is made of Ferdie Pacheco walking way but when he did AT THE TIME he said he was worried about Ali having kidney issues and when the Mayo Clinic (the No. 1 medical facility in the world) did its workup and said he did not have such problems Ferdie issued a statement and said ‘Well I’m glad you got it checked out, if they say you’re good then you must be good, I still wish you’d retire but I wish you the best of luck if you don’t.’

It’s not like Ali was walking around and everyone in the world was saying ‘OMG he’s brain damaged.’ To act like Lyle knowingly walked into the ring with a man who was half brain-dead is ludicrous.
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Entaowed said: ↑

I am a moralist quick to "Tune Up" cruel behavior, but I was a kid at the time & in 1979, or even 1980 in the lead up to the Holmes bout, nobody was saying Ali was brain damaged.
He was yet another fighter trying to hold on too long, but people wanted to believe he could pull off another miracle.
Given the lack of transparency then-& way before the Internet-it was understandable people would think it was possible.

Alzado might have had many flaws, but he did not know Ali's condition.
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I will admit I was just being disagreeable, I REALLY hate football.

Here Ali is speaking fine in 79 with no signs at all, he was clearly shot as a fighter but Lyle had no clue he had a brain injury and it was cruel to say.

cross_trainer · Oct 26, 2021

Journeyman92 said: ↑

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I will admit I was just being disagreeable, I REALLY hate football.

Here Ali is speaking fine in 79 with no signs at all, he was clearly shot as a fighter but Lyle had no clue he had a brain injury and it was cruel to say.
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In your defense, Alzado really took a "fun" exhibition far too seriously.

Journeyman92 · Oct 26, 2021

cross_trainer said: ↑

In your defense, Alzado really took a "fun" exhibition far too seriously.
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Lyle Alzado vs Hafþór Björnsson

Who wins?

Alzado

Björnsson

mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

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Lyle Alzado vs Hafþór Björnsson

Who wins?

Alzado

Björnsson

mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member