The Ali Cutoff

Thanks for responding Hearns. No way was it a Robbery but given the obvious styles matchup and Ali's age, it might have been time to consider packing it in.

I just thought of this. A 68 Ali vs. a Prime Norton would have been an interesting scrap but I think Ali would have scored often early and befuddled Norton and stopped him in the mid to late rounds.

My $0.02

 

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Muhammad Ali vs Jimmy Young

Fun Filled Fact #40

Judge, Terry Moore would later get a 'nice gig' as a Scoring Judge for the
Muhammad Ai vs Alfredo Evangilista Championship Bout in May 1977, also
at the Captital Centre, in Landover, Maryland.

And like the Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Young bout, he had 'virtually' the same 'scorecard'.

Muhammad Ali vs. Alfredo Evangilista (72-64) (11-3-1 in Rounds) Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali vs Jimmy Young (71-64) (11-4-0 in Rounds) Muhammad Ali.

According to Terry Moore, Alfredo Evangilista fought Muhammad Ali as closely as Jimmy Young did.

Was Terry Moore,,,,,,,,a consistent scoring judge,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,You Betcha..!!!!

 

Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Young

Fun Filled Fact #17

After the 8th Round, Howard Cosell, the ABC-TV fght announcer said;
'This fight is too close to call, I have it Even.

Howard Cosell, states several times thoughout the last 6 Rounds, that the fight is
'too close to call'.

At the end of Round 14, Howard off to the side microphone, 'The storyline is clear Don, I don't
know whom there going to give the decision to, frankly.

After the fight, an ABC-TV associate took Howard Cosell's hand-written
scorecard.

The ABC-TV Executive Sports Producers did not want Howard to read his scorecard on the air,
or let any of the general press at ringside get a hold of it, as they were trying to save face for
the ridiculous scoring of the '3' fight officials.

Later, Howard Cosell's personal fight scorecard was found, and someone had erased 'two' of the
early rounds that Howard scored for Jimmy Young, and changed them for Muhammad Ali.

Cosell's original scorecard was scored for Jimmy Young 69-68 (7-6-2), but after a 'tampering adjustment'
the scorecard read 70-67 (8-5-2) for Muhammad Ali.

 

A fight between a 1966/67 Ali and a prime Norton would have been a lot like their second fight,resulting in a victory for Ali,but with more daylight between them on the cards. Perhaps a 9-6 round scoreline.

A 1964 or '65 Sonny Liston would have stopped Ken within four rounds,but Ali would still have found Norton tougher to deal with than Liston. Styles maketh the fight.

 

Muhammad Ali vs Jiimy Young

Fun Filled Fact #23

Howard Cosell tried to get Kenny Norton to provide commentary after
Round 8, but Kenny declined to comment, as he was worried that
Muhammad Ali was 'blowing the fight'.

Kenny Norton, then agrees to provide commentary after Round 11.

When asked by Howard Cosell, "How do you see it Kenny'. Norton replies;
It's very close Howard, but I have Ali with a 'slight edge', because he is
the Champion. Ali is 'out-of-shape' and he is tired. Jimmy Young is fighting
a courageous fight.'

After a decent round by Muhammad Ali in the 12th Round, Kenny Norton's
scorecard read 6-4-2 Muhammad Ali.

 

Pepe, a week after the 3rd Norton-Ali go Wide World of Sports hosted a group of vetran boxing scribes to view and score the 15 rounds collectively and Kenny was present. Together they scored the bout a draw and as suprised as Norton was he also couldn't find fault with the people they brought on to do this. It was just that close and is a bout few will ever agree on, you and I included. The last round decided the bout and Kenny gave it away.

 

Muhammad Ali v. Jimmy Young should have been declared a 'no contest' long before the 15 rounds were over.
Both guys stunk the place out, didn't want to fight or forgot how to. It was a ****ing sham.

 

I don't know that they could have gone that far but,,,,It was a bout Ali trained on ice cream for as with his bout with Evangelistica, and were they both awful. Ali still beat Alfredo though (the tomato was that bad!).

 

Legend X,,,,,,,,

A 'No Contest' may have been a bit harsh in the 'real world',,,,,,,

but for you and me,,,,,,,,I agree,,,,,,,,

The Maryland Boxing Commission should have stepped in, and made a proper ruling,,,,,,,,,,,,'No Contest'

Baltimore Sun,,,,,'The Man Looked Like A Beached Whale'

Muhammad Ali flopped around the ring last night like a 'beached whale'
getting nibbled on by a 'sea gull' named, Jimmy Young.' How any of the
'3' blind mice scoring the fight had the Champion a winner, is beyond
belief.

Our newspaper had '3' independent sports writers watch the fight, and
fill out their own scorecards. All three agreed, Jimmy Young won the fight,
or better yet,,,,,,,,,,,, Muhammad Ali lost 'the fight.'

Associate writer, Mike Anderson had the bout in favor of the
Philadelphia fighter, by a score of 72-70 or (5-3-7 in Rounds).
Anderson stated, 'I just couldn't score many of the rounds to either fighter, because nobody
wanted to win the round. Jimmy wouldn't and Muhammad couldn't.'

Anderson also said, 'Kenny Norton could have beaten both fighters tonight, and at the same time.'

 

Pepe, good post. I hope never to see a puke bout like that again.

 

Thank You Sir,,,,,,,,,,,

More on Muhammad Ali vs Jimmy Young

Fun Filled Fact #11

The Cumberland Evening Times (Maryland Newspaper)

'The Champ Looked Pitiful'

We have no idea what we saw this evening,,,,,,what it wasn't,,,
a Heavyweight Championship Bout.

Someone who looked like a 'fat' Muhammad Ali came into the boxing ring
at the Capital Centre, and imitated a Heavyweight Champion. What happened
during the bout,,,,,,,,,,,you just might not want to know.

The referee and '2' judges gave the Muhammad Ali 'imitator' an early
Christmas Gift, by awarding him a big present wrapped in a bow, called
the Heavyweight Championship.

Oh, in case you wanted to know,,,,,,,,the other party in this bout,,,,,
a Philly-fighter called Jimmy Young. The light-hitting Mr. Young, slapped and
skipped throughout the fight, and did not appear to have a punch
to Knock-out a 'butterfly'. Oh, he did hit the 'bloated' Champion with
several sharp right-hands, but without much power.

When the fight ended, the 'imitator' walked with a sullen look while heading back
to his stunned cornermen. But when the decision was
announced, there was a major sigh of relief.

There was no joy in 'Mudville' though, as the 'Mighty Muhammad Ali'
has struck out.