I never read his book, but according to The Ring, Pacheco actually claims that boxing became more humane and moral as a consequence of his presence in the sport.
Very powerful stuff. Tests your perceptions of them both doesn't it? Frazier especially I think. Bitterness is one thing but ****ing hell!
That is my favorite Ali moment because it shows his charisma, his wit ("He's gonna talk to me? It's gonna be one hell of a talking night!") and his incredible confidence. I don't think there's anything wrong with what he said, at all. This was just playfully talking his opponent down and hyping the fight as he always had done. The bad stuff came years later.
I clearly remember hearing Dr Ferdie Pacheco in an interview state that Ali wanted his gloves cut off after the 14th round, after turning the tide in the 12th. Ali practically punched himself out for two more rounds, with Frazier still applying pressure. Willie the "Worm" Monroe was at ringside in Ali's corner and he heard the champ say, with some other words that I can post, "cut these things off, I ain't going back out there, that man's crazy." I think people confuse the 11th round of Manilla with the 11th round of the FOTC. Anyone who remembers that fight knows that Ali almost got himself knocked out in that round.
All this came some 15 years after the fight. At the time, just after the fight, he was reported to have said it after the 10:th. Check with "Conteh", he has the articles. In his own auto-biography Ali do state that he contemplated wether he would be able to get out for the last round, though. But, personally, I have no doubt he would. And as for the standing on points - Futch himseld admitted to Frazier being way behind. That was one big reason for him not allowing Frazier to continue.
The Willie Monroe 'overheard' story seems to have evolved into willie was seen frantically throwing his arms about trying to tell Joe's corner that Ali was going to quit. In a year or two I'm sure it'll come out that Eddie was going to let Joe continue until he felt a tap on his shoulder and a mysetrious man in a long mac and a Noo Yawk accent said "This ain't your kid's night old man,we're goin' for the price on Clay". Because remember: Frazier didn't want to quit, but Ali did. :nut This content is protected
:rofl:rofl:rofl Coming through with the goods as always, Conteh! I know this isn't the lounge, but I'd love to hear what you hope happens to Stevie Boy in prison. (Where he'll never end up, of course. But still)