Although I’m a regular Eastsideboxing reader, a daily reader, for some years, it took me a while to make my first posting here. Well, let me introduce myself a bit first. I have been a boxing fan since about the first Ali-Frazier fight in March 1971. Being nine years old at that time, I didn’t see the fight because it was broadcasted during the night here in the Netherlands. But just a few glimpses in the evening news were enough to make me an Ali fan for the rest of my life. The real first fight I ever saw was Ali against my fellow Dutchman Rudie Lubbers in October 1973. I think its a forgotten fight. I don’t know for sure but I believe it isn’t posted here yet so I’ll do it. In the late seventies I started buying American boxing magazines like KO-Magazine or The Ring. I quit that habit due to internet in 1999 and never bought a magazine again. In these ‘old days’ I had to wait for three months to learn about the outcome of fights of my interest. If you bought the edition of June you got the information of march. I was always three months behind. I’m feeling very privileged to live in the Youtube time. Now I’m able to see all these fights I only could read about. Never thought this could or would ever happen. One example, I’m a huge Larry Holmes fan to, and I can’t count the many times I’ve seen his Norton fight. A fight I’d only read about. All due to You Tube. Now as I’m grown up I changed my opinion on boxing a bit. As we all know it isn’t good for the brain. There are too many people damaged. No one can tell the state of Ali, the Quarry’s, Patterson, Benitez, and many others, have or had nothing to do with boxing. Also I belief boxing isn’t much of a sport. There’s a lot of corruption going on. It seems to me as an outsider that you can’t fight your way up if you don’t have ‘right’ people on your side. Things like this have nothing to do with sport. Or what to think about all these governing organisations whose only purses is to serve themselves? It’s totally uninteresting to know who the champions of today are. But oke, I can’t help it, still love boxing anyway. Don’t want to become boring so I’ll quit now. Below is the Ali-Lubbers fight I mentioned. Lubbers by the way is still alive and kicking and seems to be doing well. A few years back he lost everything. Even had no home anymore so he lived in a caravan. With his dog. Also he went to prison for drugs trafficking. Being involfed in drugs is something he firmly denies. He lately appeared frequently in the Dutch media and a former sportsman organisation helped him, got him a house and things like that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cfRtiCjogw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpsBeC26yRM&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPlXFiThRCQ&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlnEabJXC0E&feature=related
Welcome Theo! My father introduced me to boxing as a child. (I was born in 53) So my early heroes were Floyd Patterson, Emile Griffith, etc... I too am saddened at the state of boxing today, the money situation, 4-5 champions in multi-bodies, all different "top contenders" in each 'sanctioning' body. Except for the occasional ''big fight'', I don't even follow the current sport anymore and simply collect and watch past fights from bygone eras. Happy St. Pat's Day!!! enjoy your stay here... brad in indy
Hi Jowcol, my introduction is a bit messy. Im working on it to correct it. Maybe 'll ask the moderator. And I agree with you. On many occasions the German television broadcasts world heavyweight title fights. And on almost all these occasions I forgot or didnt even bother to watch. I couldnt resist Valuev-Holyfield so I saw that one live. It was a lousy fight but still had some excitement because Holyfield had a chance to win. But even if he did, so what?
Hi Mrbassie, that is what I was hoping for! I discovered it a few months back on Youtube. The fight isnt that special, but its a Ali fight!
That boring ****** of a Howard Cossel pisses me off everytime he ruins a fight by broadcasting it. Just watch the first minute and a half of part 2 (posted above), you'll see Lubbers land 7 or so clean punches that snap Ali's head back, all behind upper body moment, and that ******ed robot starts his dull voice "no effective blows landed so far, Lubbers is only landed on Ali's arms". :nut If he could get Ali's **** out of his mouth, he'd sound much better.
You don't have to anymore. He's dead. He used to*do Monday Night Football (American football) on network Tv. (He never played football and he never boxed). Anyway, there was a sports bar in somewhere in Illinois where you could buy a ticket on Monday nights for a door prize. The prize was a brick, which the winner got to throw through the TV screen when Howard did his final summation. So you're not the only one !
