Wepner-Ali knockdown

Sure.Ali did not bounce right up from that knockdown. From my memory he grabbed on the ropes after he got up and shook his head a bit to clear out the cobwebs. Fighters who grab the ropes to get up / shake their head do not have all their balance. I think the punch hurt Ali a bit. Is this one on youtube?

As for the photo, it could very well be doctored. Many sports phots have been doctored in the past. Wepner's ankle at one point looks oddly twisted.



I think a film that shows Wepner'e entire body would give us the truth.

 

What do you mean?

I have two camera angles of the fight and in neither one you can see their feet. Ali goes down right at the moment the punch connects.

The photo shows that Wepners foot is near Ali's when he was already going down. It hardly looked like he stepped down on it though. Who knows what happened? Ali didn't complain to the referee at all and held on after. The referee saw it and ruled it a knockdown. The crowd didn't boo. These are facts.


Sorry, but i don't find that conclusive evidence at all.

 

he exposed ALI in my opinion, that was the blueprint of how to beat Ali right there. That's why Holmes and Berbick were able to beat ALI.
:rasta

 

Stranger things have happened.

Ali took flush punches from Foreman, Liston (only a few, but still), tons from Frazier, Norton and some from Shavers, without going down except only once against Frazier.

Now imagine him fighting an average 180lb Brittish fighter and getting knocked down and hurt worse than he ever was against the former listed great punchers.
Sounds unbelievable right? But it happened anyway.
Who could believe a journeyman Bert Cooper could have Holyfield ready to be knocked out when other skilled punchers like Tyson, Lewis and Bowe couldn't do it? (actually Bowe did do it once in 3 fights, but that seemed to be more Holyfield gassing than Bowe knocking him out).




Just because it's unlikely doesn't mean we should just assume it wasn't a legit knockdown without clear evidence.

 

he stepped on his toes, he's stepping back off Ali's toe in that pic. When the punch caught Ali, Wepner was standing fully on his toe. Ali took devastating body shots without ever going down, that punch by Wepner was nothing to Ali but standing on his toe was a nice move cuz Ali couldn't move and therefore lost his balance and ended up on his ass.

 

After much research, analysis, consideration and deliberation over the past two days, reviewing the footage over and over again, frame-by-frame, I can definitely say: Ali went down.

 

Right you are, Chris.

It's amazing how much Ali is overrated by his fans. When you're floored NOT ONCE, not twice, but MULTIPLE TIMES :yep by B-level fighters and journeymen, it's a sure sign of a GRADE A China Chin. :nod

Talk about a CHINA CHIN! With CHINA in it! China made of CHINA!

If only he had a chin like Holyfield. :nod

 

When Ali gets up does he grab the ropes and shake his head a bit? Yes or no. I have seen the fight, but I do not own it.

 

On a serious note though, i pulled out the film and took some screendumps:


Wepner steps in and throws a jab:

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Wepner actually threw a double jab (the man has skill!), of which the second you can see here.

Now, an important note.
Wepner stepped in while throwing the first, and while throwing the second jab, he planted his feet: particularly his left foot, which is supposedly going to step on Ali's right foot. In the next image it is clear that his left foot is NOT on Ali's right foot:

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After he threw that second jab, he prepares to throw the right hand, while retaining the same position with his feet, which are already planted:

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......And lands the right hand.

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Is Wepner standing on Ali's foot? It is certainly possible. It is not clear to see however.


Another thing to be noted is that despite this is Wepner, this was actually a very good punch. He was in range, set his feet, twisted his body from all the way back and lands the punch perfectly on Ali's body. In fact he hits him on the back a little bit, probably hit the kidney area. Anyone who has been punched there knows that it is a very painful area and can be paralysing, although it usually takes a second before that sets in, whereas this seemed instantaneous. :think


Last picture, you can see part of Wepner's foot but it is not clear whether he stood on it during the punch or not.

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thanks for the shots. i defo think on the 4th shot when he's landing with the right, Wepners left foot is on Ali's right toes.