Why did Mathew Saad Muhammad deteriorate so rapidly ?

He was in a brutal war in nearly every fight, and his defense was not great. When you get hit really hard and clean in every fight it eventually catches up with you. Even when winning, Saad took a lot of damage and punishment. He just was super tough with a heck of a punch and great conditioning. When a guy like that eventually is done, he’s done. The body and brain can only take so much.

 

perfect answer.

 

The first Braxton beating diminished him. The second one finished him. His reflexes were totally gone. Also years of trouble making weight may have had an impact, as well. Braxton was actually a year older than Saad. But Saad turned pro at 19 in Jan. 74.

If you watch the Jerry Martin fight Saad looks a little weak, but a lot of that can be attributed to Martin being very physically strong and in his face. Saad still looked sharp with his punches.

I really think if he fought someone other than Braxton he would have won and set up a unification with Spinks. He most likely loses that but doesn't take as much of a beating as he did against Braxton. Braxton had the style to get inside and throw rapid, brutal combinations. Saad's inside defense was not good even when he was younger. Marvin Johnson landed helacious uppercuts on the inside but they were single shots. Braxton would throw, four, five quick and powerful shots on the inside which would all land on Saad's unprotected chin.

Having to lose a lot of weight right before the first Braxton Fight and then absorbing a beating exacerbated the deterioration, probably.

In the Pete McInyre fight in between the two Braxton fights Saad's reflexes look a bit off - his timing was off and he missed a lot. But the straight right with all its's power was still potent.

Saad looked way worse in the second Braxton fight than the first, despite easily making weight. He looked in great shape. Maybe he overtrained for the second fight, with sparring and it affected him. Also, Braxton looked to have improved between the first and second fight - he was certainly more confident going in and dominated from the first bell.

 

With all the brutal wars and damage that he's been taken over the years its eventually going to catch up to him at some point. Getting matched up with a monster like Qawi certainly didn't help matters for the already deteriorating Muhammad.