Muhammad Ali vs Buster Mathis

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Il Duce, Jan 4, 2011.


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  1. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Was anybody around when this bout was fought on ABC-TV.

    Did anybody watch it,,,,,,,,
    Any thoughts.
    This was the first time on National TV, that a network actually
    stopped airing the bout in mid-fight, to broadcast something else.
    I believe it was after Round 4.

    They came back to finish airing Rounds 11 and 12.

    OH,,,,,,,I'm going to get creamed for starting this one.:-(
     
    Il Duce, Jan 4, 2011
    Il Duce, Jan 4, 2011
    #1
  2. anut

    anut Boxing Addict banned

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    I have it on dvd... Abc with howard cossell
     
    anut, Jan 4, 2011
    anut, Jan 4, 2011
    #2
  3. anut

    anut Boxing Addict banned

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    and its complete.....its not chopped
     
    anut, Jan 4, 2011
    anut, Jan 4, 2011
    #3
  4. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    I thought it was kinda funny how he started dancing for a little bit. It was literally his "last dance" :)

    Its a shame he took that fight.
     
    reznick, Jan 5, 2011
    reznick, Jan 5, 2011
    #4
  5. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Sports Illustrated called Ali 'a dancing elephant',,,,,,,

    Howard Cosell, ABC boxing broadcaster apologized to the TV viewing audience, after
    Round 4.
    He said, they were going to another Sporting Event, and would return to the fight,
    'if something exciting happened'.

    When they went back to the fight in Round 10, Howard Cosell, said,,,,,
    'you've missed nothing', and 'it will be a long time before we broadcast another one of
    Muhammad Ali's fights'.
     
    Il Duce, Jan 5, 2011
    Il Duce, Jan 5, 2011
    #5
  6. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    I saw it...and I agree with the prevailing wisdom that Ali carried him to a drgree and had much compassion for the big guy.
     
    red cobra, Jan 5, 2011
    red cobra, Jan 5, 2011
    #6
  7. lefthook31

    lefthook31 Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    I remember watching this fight in my kitchen back in the day snoozer.
     
    lefthook31, Jan 5, 2011
    lefthook31, Jan 5, 2011
    #7
  8. johnmaff36

    johnmaff36 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I believe the TV people were wary of a crowd of black muslims at ringside who were intimidating the Exec's and Mathis cornermen plus Ali was determined to make a stand regarding his pacifist stance on the vietnam issue which resulted in him not hitting Mathis.

    Well, why not? Its no more bizarre than the nonsense being spouted on other anti-Ali agenda driven threads and posts!
     
    johnmaff36, Jan 5, 2011
    johnmaff36, Jan 5, 2011
    #8
  9. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This fight was very much a minor one in the Ali canon. What I'll always remember about it is,that after being called a sadist in the Ernie Terrel,and first Floyd Patterson fights,Ali was derided for virtually taking a pacifistic approach to Mathis.
     
    Stevie G, Jan 5, 2011
    Stevie G, Jan 5, 2011
    #9
  10. AREA 53

    AREA 53 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Despite yelling "I Will Do To Buster...What Sitting Bull Did to Custer..." Ali Treated it Like the Previous Ellis Fight, A Paid Exhibition by any other Name, Ali caught some Flak for not taking things seriously, so Next time out it was a much more Focused Ali against Blin, I think Ali Liked Buster and saw no gain in hurting him, But if Buster had posed any form of Threat i have Little Doubt that Ali would have raised the level of his game accordingly, post Frazier 1st Ali did have something of a "Roadshow" Mentality. - Working Holidays can be fun if you are getting well paid for them.
     
    AREA 53, Jan 5, 2011
    AREA 53, Jan 5, 2011
    #10
  11. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Mathis came into the fight as a slob, a shame because he could've given Ali a decent fight at his best. Stylistically they were quite similar, with Mathis being very light on his feet for a big man. Not at 260 pounds though.
     
    TheGreatA, Jan 5, 2011
    TheGreatA, Jan 5, 2011
    #11
  12. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Tony Tubbs reminded me of Buster a bit.
     
    Stevie G, Jan 5, 2011
    Stevie G, Jan 5, 2011
    #12
  13. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yes he did. Mathis fought in an era of tough guys though, and didn't go very far. His eating habits did not help either, but he was dedicated to the sport for a while.
     
    TheGreatA, Jan 5, 2011
    TheGreatA, Jan 5, 2011
    #13
  14. klompton

    klompton Boxing Addict banned

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    Unless Im mistaken this is the abc replay of the fight aired the following week.
     
    klompton, Jan 5, 2011
    klompton, Jan 5, 2011
    #14
  15. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

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    klompton,

    Yes it was,,,,,,,the fight was broadcast as a closed circuit TV event.
    Wednesay Night, 11/17/71.

    ABC Televsion bought the rights to show the replay.
    Not all of the rounds were shown, as some rounds were eliminated from
    the primary broadcast.

    That fight was shown that night, on a tape-delay in certain areas of
    New York, on Channel 7.
    Rounds 1 thru 4 and Rounds 10, 11 and 12.
     
    Il Duce, Jan 5, 2011
    Il Duce, Jan 5, 2011
    #15
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