It's been circulated that he has passed. He brought a lot of sizzle to a usually moribund division, really gave fans their money's worth. I heard he was not doing too well a few years back, living on the streets. Not a fitting end to a man with such heart. RIP, champ.
Wow, what was the cause, I met him briefly years ago. he spoke of a movie being made of his life that obviously never came off. Rest in God's presence dear warrior and know your true worth!
I am sorry to learn that Mathew Saad Muhammad, one of the most thrilling and gamest fighters what I ever saw, has passed away. Who can forget his exciting televised bouts which took place during the late 1970s and early 1980s? I myself saw him fight in person when he knocked out Lotte Mwale in a dramatic way with a tremendous left uppercut to the head in San Diego during 1980. When the uppercut landed, all I could see was the backside of Mwale. I remember the sound of the punch landing and seeing the moisture literally flying upwards from Mwale's head. At the time, I could not tell if the knockout blow was a left or right uppercut because Mwale blocked my view. The punch remains the most memorable one that I have ever seen in person. At a fight show which took place at the Olympic Auditorium or two later a day or later when I saw Eddie Mustafa Muhammad stop Rudi Koopmans, I told Mathew how much I liked him as a fighter. I remember that he had his right hand clenched in a fist when we shook hands. He was very gracious about it. Note- There is a dating problem on BoxRec in regards to Mathew's bout with Mwale and Eddie's bout with Koopmans. The bouts didn't take place on the same day. Yet according to BoxRec, both bouts took place on November 28, 1980. - Chuck Johnston
A true warrior. His fights were all fun to watch. Some of the best light-heavyweight wars ever. He had awesome power, great condition, tremendous toughness, and a pretty darn good chin given how much and hard he got hit.
I feel like I grew up watching Saad Muhammad in all those thrilling wars... Lopez,Mwale,Conteh,too many to list. Left everything he had in the ring. A true champion and true warrior as well. RIP Champ...
I may have made a mistake in regards to the spelling of Matthew Saad Muhammad's first name, but was it sometimes spelled as "Mathew" at the time he changed his name from Matthew Franklin? I have read that Matthew had ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease. - Chuck Johnston
So sad. Had no idea he had als. A huge loss for our sport. He was a true boxing legend. I live in Philly and there is nothing at all about it in the press. Just watched the local news and not a word even in the sports segment. How soon they forget. RIP Champ
Wow; this was an unexpected gut punch. Damn it. Rest easy champ, you were truly one of a kind, and one of my top five favorite fighters ever. Thank you.
Damn i didn't even know this man was sick, sad to hear about his passing, 59 way too young to pass awayatsch...