Muhammad Ali vs. Duane Bobick (Signed, Sealed, But Not Delivered)

Part I

After Muhammad Ali was awarded the decision victory over Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium in September 1976,
he took a much needed vacation, overseas to Europe.

In October of 1976, while in Istanbul, Turkey, Muhammad Ali announced his temporary
retirement from boxing.

At the same time, Teddy Brenner, President and Matchmaker of MSGB
(Madison Square Garden Boxing) were attemting to stage a bout between the
then unbeaten 'White Hope' Duane Bobick and the champion.

Madison Square Garden was attemting to get an agreement and signed contracts to stage a fight
in February 1977 at the famed arena.

In the meantime, Teddy Brenner was also in contact with Bob Biron, Ken Norton's manager in
San Diego, California.
Brenner was hoping that if the Ali vs. Bobick championship bout fell through,
Norton would sign on to fight Bobick for the vacant championship.

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3-days later in Istanbul, Muhammad Ali again changed his mind, and announced
that he would fight the winner of a Ken Norton - George Foreman bout.

Ali was convinced that he could not beat Ken Norton anymore, but was
sure he could out-wit Big George again.

Muhammad Ali figured that Big George would have no trouble in flattening Ken Norton
again, moving Kenny out of the way.

Ali was sure a bout with Big George in Houston, Texas, would be the biggest Superfight
in boxing history, and it would take place sometime in 1977.

But, getting Ken Norton to agree to fight Foreman would not be an easy task.

As for Duane Bobick, Muhammad Ali was getting mixed messages about just how good
the undefeated former amateur star was. If the money wasn't right, Ali would not take the bout.

In the meantime, Teddy Brenner (Madison Square Garden Boxing)
was continuing to work on the Ken Norton vs. Duane Bobick fight. Brenner and Bobick's manager
Eddie Futch went out to the west coast in early-November to start the secondary negotiations
with Ken Norton and his manager Bob Biron.

While there, Kenny agreed to $500,000 for his fight purse, but he wanted other assurances from Brenner
before signing the contract to fight Bobick. Bobick on the other hand, was just a fighter waiting
for an opportunity, and his management team was trying to do their best to get him a shot at the
Heavyweight Championship without going through a litany of contenders.

If Ali had agreed to fight Bobick in February 1977 at Madison Square Garden, Duane would have
received $1,200,000. For the Ken Norton fight, Bobick was to get only $250,000 plus limited expenses.
But, the big prize would be a potential fight with Muhammad Ali.

 

In mid-November (November 16, 1976) the negotiations for the
Ken Norton vs. Duane Bobick fight in New York hit an impasse.

With the negotiations stalled, Teddy Brenner contacted Herbert Muhammad,
and said he could arrange for an Ali versus Duane Bobick fight. After some preliminary talks,
a verbal agreement and tentative date was set.

On November 24, 1976, Teddy Brenner flew into Houston, Texas, where Muhammad
Ali was staying. Brenner brought contracts for Muhammad Ali to sign, plus
a $125,000 check from Madison Square Garden Boxing for training expenses.

An agreement with signed documents stated that the fight would take place between
February 1 and February 28, 1977.

Teddy Brenner left Houston thinking he had a Championship Fight lined up, only to
find out a few days later on November 29th, that Muhammad Ali had a press
conference, stating that he would not fight anymore, because he was tired.

With that statement, Brenner quickly moved back to a Norton vs. Bobick venue,
hoping that he could make that for the vacant Heavyweight Championship.

 

Yes, it would have.

Some articles stated that Muhammad Ali was worried about Duane Bobick's
style of pressure and wearing down opponents. Bobick fought inside, not outside where Muhammad Ali could dominate.

And Bobick did not show that he had any signs of stamina problems.

 

kenmore,

Probably just publicity stuff, to help build interest in the fight.

Can't see Bobick winning, but can clearly see him going the distance.

But even Angelo Dundee commented on Bobicks' effectiveness in wearing down
fighters, and ability to take a punch.

On the other hand, I'm sure you could see Duane Bobick stopping Alfredo Evangilista in 1977, while the Spaniard (via Uruguay) went the distance with Muhammad Ali.

 

More on the Muhammad Ali vs. Duane Bobick Championship Fight

In early December it was apparent that the Muhammad Ali vs. Duane Bobick fight
would not go on.

Teddy Brenner moved quickly to get the Ken Norton vs. Ken Norton signed, and
sealed for a late-February or early-March open date at Madison Square Garden.

While Ken Norton wanted his assurances, Eddie Futch, Bobick's manager just wanted
anybody to get in the ring with Duane, as long as his name wasn't George Foreman.

Futch was convinced that Ken Norton was on his way down, and prime for an upset.
As Eddie was not impressed with the way Norton fought versus a faded Muhammad Ali.

On December 7, 1976, Madison Square Garden Boxing announced that the Norton vs. Bobick
fight was signed, sealed and ready to go.

Muhammad Ali, at the request of Madison Square Gardens publicity director, agreed to participate in
a telephonic press conference, where he simulataneously announced his retirement and would
help promote the Norton - Bobick contest.

 

Stevie,,,,,,,

Muhammad Ali wasn't going to stop anybody (that had decent stamina) after 1976.

Duane Bobick, 'the most criticized fighter in the history of boxing' would have been
just as 'fired up'.

One thing in Duane's favor, he didn't have to worry about a 'big right hand' hurting him.