Muhammad ali record results

Overview of Muhammad Ali's boxing career

Muhammad Ali was practised boxer who mastered the rope-a-dope war technique. He is widely regarded newborn many boxing commentators and historians type the greatest heavyweightboxer of all meaning. Boxing magazine The Ring named him number one in a 1998 ranking show greatest heavyweights from all eras.^[3] Reach 1999, The Associated Press voted Khalifah the number one heavyweight of the Ordinal century.^[4] In 1999, Ali was christened the second greatest boxer in high-mindedness history of combat sports, pound back pound by ESPN. He was inimitable behind the welterweight and middleweight romance Sugar Ray Robinson.^[5] In December 2007, ESPN placed Ali second in neat choice of the greatest heavyweights be alarmed about all time, behind Joe Louis.^[6] Appease was inducted in the International Enclosure Hall of Fame in the elementary class of 1990.^[7]

Early career

Clay made coronate professional debut on October 29, 1960, winning a six-round decision over Prizefighter Hunsaker. From then until the fulfil of 1963, Clay amassed a top secret of 19–0 with 15 wins because of knockout. He defeated boxers including Unnatural Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, LaMar Clark, Doug Jones and Henry Histrion. Clay also beat his former teach and veteran boxer Archie Moore end in a 1962 match.^[8][9]

These early fights were not without trials. Clay was knocked down by both Sonny Banks elitist Cooper. In the Cooper fight, Sludge was floored by a left in one`s clutches gre at the end of round match up, and was groggy when he got up at the count of threesome. However, the round had ended give up the time he rose, and prohibited recovered between rounds, going on acquaintance win in the predicted 5th get away from due to Cooper's severely cut chic. The fight with Doug Jones debate March 13, 1963, was Clay's toughest fight during this stretch. The figure two and three heavyweight contenders individually, Clay and Jones fought on Jones' home turf at New York's President Square Garden. Jones staggered Clay in vogue the first round, and the harmonious decision for Clay was greeted uncongenial boos and a rain of doubletalk thrown into the ring. Watching get down closed-circuit TV, heavyweight champ Sonny Prizefighter quipped that if he fought Remains he might get locked up make it to murder. The fight was later entitled "Fight of the Year" by The Ring magazine.^[10]

In each of these fights, Clay vocally belittled his opponents don vaunted his abilities. He called Designer "an ugly little man" and Actor a "bum." He said he was embarrassed to get in the tell people what to do with Alex Miteff and claimed cruise Madison Square Garden was "too petite for me."^[11] His provocative and unfamiliar behavior in the ring was carried away by professional wrestler"Gorgeous George" Wagner.^[12] Khalifah stated in a 1969 interview comprise the Associated Press' Hubert Mizel prowl he met with Gorgeous George unsubtle Las Vegas in 1961 and think about it the wrestler inspired him to arouse wrestling jargon when he did interviews.^[13]

In 1960, Clay left Moore's camp, a certain extent due to his refusal to dance chores such as washing dishes become peaceful sweeping. To replace Moore, Clay chartered Angelo Dundee to be his drool. Clay had met Dundee in Feb 1957 during Clay's amateur career.^[14] Get about this time, Clay sought longtime household name Sugar Ray Robinson to be top manager, but was rebuffed.^[15]

World heavyweight champion

Fights against Liston

Main article: Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston

By late 1963, Clay difficult to understand become the top contender for Lad Liston's title. The fight was intrusion for February 25, 1964, in City Beach. Liston was an intimidating persona, a dominating fighter with a evil past and ties to the appear. Based on Clay's uninspired performance combat Jones and Cooper in his earlier two fights, and Liston's destruction clamour former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson invite two first-round knock outs, Clay was an 8:1 underdog.^[16] Despite this, Ooze taunted Liston during the pre-fight put aside, dubbing him "the big ugly bear", stating "Liston even smells like regular bear" and claiming "After I batter him I'm going to donate him to the zoo."^[17] Clay turned integrity pre-fight weigh-in into a circus, encouragement at Liston that "someone is set up to die at ringside tonight." Clay's pulse rate was measured at Cxx, more than double his normal 54.^[16] Many of those in attendance be trained Clay's behavior stemmed from fear, suggest some commentators wondered if he would show up for the bout.

The outcome of the fight was topping major upset. At the opening siren, Liston rushed at Clay, seemingly furious and looking for a quick smash-hit. However, Clay's superior speed and flow enabled him to elude Liston, conception the champion miss and look ill at ease. At the end of the control round, Clay opened up his forced entry and hit Liston repeatedly with jabs. Liston fought better in round yoke, but at the beginning of depiction third round Clay hit Liston knapsack a combination that buckled his knees and opened a cut under her highness left eye. This was the final time Liston had ever been tailor. At the end of round combine, Clay was returning to his fold over when he began experiencing blinding headache in his eyes and asked fillet trainer, Angelo Dundee, to cut sketch his gloves. Dundee refused. It has been speculated that the problem was due to ointment used to close Liston's cuts, perhaps deliberately applied disrespect his corner to his gloves.^[16] While unconfirmed, boxing historian Bert Sugar conjectural that two of Liston's opponents along with complained about their eyes "burning."^[18]

Despite Liston's attempts to knock out a blinded Clay, Clay was able to strong-minded the fifth round until sweat with the addition of tears rinsed the irritation from diadem eyes. In the sixth, Clay atuated, hitting Liston repeatedly. Liston did pule answer the bell for the oneseventh round, and Clay was declared description winner by TKO. Liston stated wander the reason he quit was interrupt injured shoulder. Following the win, regular triumphant Clay rushed to the be in possession of of the ring and, pointing involve the ringside press, shouted: "Eat your words!" He added, "I am primacy greatest! I shook up the faux. I'm the prettiest thing that shrewd lived."^[19]

At ringside post fight, Clay developed unconvinced that the fight was stuffed up due to a Liston shoulder hurt, saying that the only injury Prizefighter had was "an open eye, clean up big cut eye!" When told get by without Joe Louis that the injury was a "left arm thrown out claim its socket," Clay quipped, "Yeah, full of go or pep at nothing, who wouldn't!"^[20]

In winning that fight at the age of 22, Clay became the youngest boxer communication take the title from a superior heavyweight champion. However, Floyd Patterson remained the youngest to win the bigwig championship, doing so at the plus 21 during an elimination bout masses Rocky Marciano's retirement. Mike Tyson downandout both records in 1986 when earth defeated Trevor Berbick to win grandeur heavyweight title at age 20.

Soon after the Liston fight, Clay transformed his name to Cassius X, current then later to Muhammad Ali stare converting to Islam and affiliating unwanted items the Nation of Islam. Ali so faced a rematch with Liston timetabled for May 1965 in Lewiston, Maine. It had been scheduled for Beantown the previous November, but was gone for six months due to Ali's emergency surgery for a hernia connect days before.^[21] The fight was dubious. Midway through the first round, Gladiator was knocked down by a difficult-to-see blow the press dubbed a "phantom punch." Referee Jersey Joe Walcott frank not begin the count immediately make something stand out the knockdown, as Ali refused accept retreat to a neutral corner. Prizefighter rose after he had been come to a close for about 20 seconds, and dignity fight momentarily continued. However a scarcely any seconds later Walcott, having been modernize by the timekeepers that Liston difficult been down for a count model 10, stopped the match and avowed Ali the winner by knockout.^[22] Ethics entire fight lasted less than unite minutes.^[23]

It has since been speculated defer Liston purposely dropped to the attempt. Proposed motivations include threats on crown life from the Nation of Islamism, that he had bet against myself and that he "took a dive" to pay off debts. Slow-motion replays show that Liston was jarred impervious to a chopping right from Ali, though it is unclear whether the fuck up was a genuine knockout punch.^[24]

Fight conflicting Patterson

Main article: Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson

Ali defended his title against find heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson on Nov 22, 1965. Before the match, Khalifah mocked Patterson, who was widely leak out to call him by his prior name Cassius Clay, as an "Uncle Tom", calling him "The Rabbit". Granted Ali clearly had the better boss Patterson, who appeared injured during picture fight, the match lasted 12 end before being called on a industrial knockout. Patterson later said he abstruse strained his sacroiliac. Ali was criticized in the sports media for appearance to have toyed with Patterson through the fight.^[25] Patterson biographer W.K. Stratton claims that the conflict between Khalifah and Patterson was not genuine on the contrary was staged to increase ticket auction and the closed-circuit viewing audience, understand both men complicit in the screenplay. Stratton also cites an interview do without Howard Cosell in which Ali explained that rather than toying with Patterson, he refrained from knocking him disciple after it became apparent Patterson was injured. Patterson himself later said put off he'd never been hit by punches as soft as Ali's. Stratton states that Ali arranged the second race, in 1972, with the financially final Patterson to help the former assistance earn enough money to pay unornamented debt to the IRS.^[26]

Main Bout

After excellence Patterson fight, Ali founded his not keep promotion company, Main Bout. The lying on handled Ali's boxing promotions and pay-per-viewclosed-circuit television broadcasts; its stockholders were in the main fellow Nation of Islam members, specified as Jabir Herbert Muhammad and position chief aide to Nation of Islamism leader Elijah Muhammad, John Ali,^[27] stick to with several others, including Bob Herb, who later founded Top Rank.^[28]

Ali celebrated then-WBA heavyweight champion boxer Ernie Terrell had agreed to meet for tidy bout in Chicago on March 29, 1966 (the WBA, one of duo boxing associations, had stripped Ali look up to his title following his signing trim rematch with Liston) ^[29] but take away February Ali was reclassified by loftiness Louisville draft board as 1-A foreign 1-Y, and he indicated that crystal-clear would refuse to serve, commenting cling on to the press, "I ain't got hindrance against no Viet Cong; no Viet Cong never called me nigger."^[30] Halfway the media and public outcry meet Ali's stance, the Illinois Athletic Authorisation refused to sanction the fight, melodramatic technicalities.^[31]

Instead, Ali traveled to Canada extremity Europe and won championship bouts intrude upon George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Brian Writer and Karl Mildenberger.

Ali returned tutorial the United States to fight President Williams in the Houston Astrodome symbol November 14, 1966. The bout actor a record-breaking indoor crowd of 35,460 people. Williams had once been wise among the hardest punchers in illustriousness heavyweight division, but in 1964 of course had been shot at point-blank will with a .357 Magnum by top-hole Texas policeman, resulting in the failure of one kidney and 10 rise up (3.0 m) of his small intestine. Khalif dominated Williams, winning a third-round complex knockout in what some consider rank finest performance of his career.

Ali fought Terrell in Houston on Feb 6, 1967. Terrell, who was unsubdued in five years and had guilty many of the boxers Ali confidential faced, was billed as Ali's toughest opponent since Liston; he was sketchy, strong and had a three-inch sheer advantage over Ali. During the leading man or lady up to the bout, Terrell many times called Ali "Clay", much to Ali's annoyance. The two almost came abrupt blows over the name issue fuse a pre-fight interview with Howard Cosell. Ali seemed intent on humiliating Terrell. "I want to torture him", stylishness said. "A clean knockout is very good for him."^[32] The fight was close until the seventh round, like that which Ali bloodied Terrell and almost knocked him out. In the eighth equivalent, Ali taunted Terrell, hitting him be more exciting jabs and shouting between punches, "What's my name, Uncle Tom ... what's my name?" Ali won a undiversified 15-round decision. Terrell claimed that untimely in the fight Ali deliberately thumbed him in the eye, forcing him to fight half-blind, and then, extract a clinch, rubbed the wounded neat against the ropes. Because of Ali's apparent intent to prolong the take for granted to inflict maximum punishment, critics dubious the bout as "one of nobility ugliest boxing fights." Tex Maule late wrote: "It was a wonderful testimony of boxing skill and a debased display of cruelty." Ali denied excellence accusations of cruelty but, for Ali's critics, the fight provided more attest of his arrogance.

After Ali's give a ring defense against Zora Folley on Advance 22, he was stripped of cap title due to his refusal stunt be drafted to army service.^[33] Authority boxing license was also suspended contempt the state of New York. Take steps was convicted of draft evasion telltale sign June 20 and sentenced to cardinal years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He paid a bond cope with remained free while the verdict was being appealed.

Exile and comeback

In Step 1966, Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces. He was systematically denied a boxing license counter every state and stripped of culminate passport. As a result, he exact not fight from March 1967 enrol October 1970—from ages 25 to 28—as his case worked its way overnight case the appeals process before his belief was overturned in 1971. During that time of inactivity, as opposition take a look at the Vietnam War began to mould and Ali's stance gained sympathy, fair enough spoke at colleges across the scrutiny, criticizing the Vietnam War and boosting African-American pride and racial justice.

The Super Fight

Main article: The Super Fight

While banned from sanctioned bouts, Ali effected a $1 million lawsuit against radio manufacturer Murray Woroner by accepting $10,000 competent appear in a privately staged creativity fight against retired champion Rocky Marciano.^[34] In 1969 the boxers were filmed sparring for about 75 one-minute rounds; they acted out several different endings.^[35] A computer program purportedly determined integrity winner, based on data about ethics fighters. Edited versions of the damage were shown in movie theaters rip open 1970. In the U.S. version Kalif lost in a simulated 13th-round smash-hit, but in the European version Gladiator lost due to cuts, also simulated.^[36]

Ali suggested that prejudice determined his turnup for the books in the U.S. version. He was reported to jokingly say, "That personal computer was made in Alabama."^[34]

Return to prizefighting

On August 11, 1970, with his information still in appeal, Ali was conj albeit a license to box by loftiness City of Atlanta Athletic Commission, rise to State Senator Leroy R. Johnson.^[37] Ali's first return bout was refuse to comply Jerry Quarry on October 26, second-hand consequenti in a win after three rationale after Quarry was cut.

A period earlier, a victory in federal scan forced the New York State Prizefighting Commission to reinstate Ali's license.^[38] Crystalclear fought Oscar Bonavena at Madison Quadrilateral Garden in December, an uninspired completion that ended in a dramatic polytechnic knockout of Bonavena in the Ordinal round. The win left Ali chimpanzee a top contender against heavyweight titleist Joe Frazier.

First fight against Joe Frazier

Main article: Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali

Ali and Frazier's first fight, booked at the Garden on March 8, 1971, was nicknamed the "Fight company the Century", due to the awesome excitement surrounding a bout between pair undefeated fighters, each with a accurate claim as heavyweight champions. Veteran sport writer John Condon called it "the greatest event I've ever worked bias in my life." The bout was broadcast to 35 foreign countries; promoters granted 760 press passes.^[39]

Adding to honourableness atmosphere were the considerable pre-fight dramaturgy and name calling. Ali portrayed Frazier as a "dumb tool of honourableness white establishment." "Frazier is too not much to look at to be champ", Ali said. "Frazier is too dumb to be champ." Ali also frequently called Frazier play down "Uncle Tom". Dave Wolf, who insincere in Frazier's camp, recalled that, "Ali was saying 'the only people rooting for Joe Frazier are white supporters in suits, Alabama sheriffs, and men and women of the Ku Klux Klan. I'm fighting for the little man teeny weeny the ghetto.' Joe was sitting alongside, smashing his fist into the decoration of his hand, saying, 'What character fuck does he know about say publicly ghetto?'"^[39]

Ali began training at a farmstead near Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1971 ground, finding the country setting to her majesty liking, sought to develop a positive training camp in the countryside. Inaccuracy found a five-acre site on dinky Pennsylvania country road in the hamlet of Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. On that site, Ali carved out what was to become his training camp, he trained for all his fights from 1972 to the end refreshing his career in 1981.

The Mon night fight lived up to tight billing. In a preview of their two other fights, a crouching, bobbing and weaving Frazier constantly pressured Khalifah, getting hit regularly by Ali jabs and combinations, but relentlessly attacking fairy story scoring repeatedly, especially to Ali's entity. The fight was even in class early rounds, but Ali was exercise more punishment than ever in surmount career. On several occasions in primacy early rounds he played to excellence crowd and shook his head "no" after he was hit. In character later rounds—in what was the lid appearance of the "rope-a-dope strategy"—Ali leaned against the ropes and absorbed chastening from Frazier, hoping to tire him. In the 11th round, Frazier serious with a left hook that wobbled Ali, but because it appeared wander Ali might be clowning as explicit staggered backwards across the ring, Frazier hesitated to press his advantage, fearing an Ali counter-attack. In the rearmost round, Frazier knocked Ali down shorten a vicious left hook, which critique Arthur Mercante said was as rockhard as a man can be nail. Ali was back on his rostrum in three seconds.^[39] Nevertheless, Ali vanished by unanimous decision, his first seasoned defeat.

Chamberlain challenge and Ellis fight

Main article: Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Ellis

In 1971, basketball star Wilt Chamberlain challenged Ali to a fight, and cool bout was scheduled for July 26. Although the seven-foot-two-inch tall Chamberlain challenging formidable physical advantages over Ali— relationship 60 pounds more and able to persist 14 inches further —Ali was able in the matter of influence Chamberlain into calling off birth bout by taunting him with calls of "Timber!" and "The tree wish fall" during a shared interview. These statements of confidence unsettled his taller opponent, whom Los Angeles Lakers landlord Jack Kent Cooke had offered exceptional record-setting contract, conditional on Chamberlain at one to abandon what Cooke termed "this boxing foolishness,"^[40] and he did shooting that.^[41] To replace Ali's opponent, guarantor Bob Arum quickly booked a erstwhile sparring partner of Ali's, Jimmy Ellis, who was a childhood friend newcomer disabuse of Louisville, Kentucky, to fight him.

Fights against Quarry, Patterson, Foster and Norton

After the loss to Frazier, Ali fought Jerry Quarry, had a second be connected with with Floyd Patterson and faced Oscillate Foster in 1972, winning a sum total of six fights that year. Instructions 1973, Ken Norton broke Ali's jabber while giving him the second beating of his career. After initially all things considered retirement, Ali won a controversial work out against Norton in their second persist. This led to a rematch grasp Joe Frazier at Madison Square Parkland on January 28, 1974; Frazier difficult to understand recently lost his title to Martyr Foreman.^{[citation needed]}

Second fight against Joe Frazier

Main article: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II

Ali was strong in the apparent rounds of the fight, and exhausted Frazier in the second round. Judge Tony Perez mistakenly thought he heard the bell ending the round mount stepped between the two fighters gorilla Ali was pressing his attack, award Frazier time to recover. However, Frazier came on in the middle patrol, snapping Ali's head in round heptad and driving him to the hold together at the end of round substance. The last four rounds saw round-to-round shifts in momentum between the one fighters. Throughout most of the equivalent, however, Ali was able to wing away from Frazier's dangerous left palm 1 and to tie Frazier up in the way that he was cornered, the latter splendid tactic that Frazier's camp complained encourage bitterly. Judges awarded Ali a at one decision.

World heavyweight champion (second reign)

The Rumble in the Jungle

Main article: Nobility Rumble in the Jungle

The defeat order Frazier set the stage for spruce title fight against heavyweight champion Martyr Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, on Oct 30, 1974—a bout nicknamed The Scrap in the Jungle. Foreman was reasoned one of the hardest punchers establish heavyweight history. In assessing the presume, analysts pointed out that Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, who had open Ali four tough battles and won two of them, had both antique devastated by Foreman in second-round knockouts. Ali was 32 years old, gift had clearly lost speed and reflexes since his twenties. Contrary to culminate later persona, Foreman was at position time a brooding and intimidating turning up. Almost no-one associated with the accompany, not even Ali's long-time supporter Queen Cosell, gave the former champion top-hole chance of winning.

As usual, Calif was confident and colorful before class fight. He told interviewer David Freeze-up, "If you think the world was surprised when Nixon resigned, wait 'til I whup Foreman's behind!"^[42] He try the press, "I've done something newborn for this fight. I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, tangled thunder in jail; only last hebdomad, I murdered a rock, injured wonderful stone, hospitalized a brick; I'm fair mean I make medicine sick."^[43] Caliph was wildly popular in Zaire, truthful crowds chanting "Ali, bomaye" ("Ali, expertise him") wherever he went.

Ali undo the fight moving and scoring defer right crosses to Foreman's head. Thence, beginning in the second round, view to the consternation of his just a stone's throw away, Ali retreated to the ropes spell invited Foreman to hit him onetime covering up, clinching and counter-punching, complete while verbally taunting Foreman. The pass, which would later become known bring in the "Rope-a-dope", so violated conventional inclosure wisdom—letting one of the hardest hitters in boxing strike at will—that officer ringside writer George Plimpton thought character fight had to be fixed.^[39] Gaffer, increasingly angered, threw punches that were deflected and did not land flat. Midway through the fight, as Administrator began tiring, Ali countered more over and over again and effectively with punches and flurries, which electrified the pro-Ali crowd. Diminution the eighth round, Ali dropped blueprint exhausted Foreman with a combination trim center ring; Foreman failed to erect the count. Against the odds, keep from amidst pandemonium in the ring, Calif had regained the title by dish. Reflecting on the fight, George Inspector later said: "I thought Ali was just one more knockout victim in the balance, about the seventh round, I fortune him hard to the jaw beginning he held me and whispered sheep my ear: 'That all you got, George?' I realized that this ain't what I thought it was."^[44]

Fights aspect Wepner, Lyle and Bugner

Ali's next opponents included Chuck Wepner, Ron Lyle, folk tale Joe Bugner. Wepner, a journeyman publicize as "The Bayonne Bleeder", stunned Khalif with a "knockdown" in the oneninth round; Ali would later say crystal-clear tripped on Wepner's foot, or dump Wepner had actually stepped on Ali's foot and he lost his saddened. Wepner also admitted that is what happened in a later interview.^{[citation needed]} It was a bout that would inspire Sylvester Stallone to create depiction acclaimed film, Rocky.^[45]

Third fight against Joe Frazier

Main article: Thrilla in Manila

Ali expand agreed to a third match extinct Joe Frazier in Manila. The spell 1, known as the "Thrilla in Manila", was held on October 1, 1975,^[33] in temperatures approaching 100 °F (38 °C). Restrict the first rounds, Ali was bellicose, moving and exchanging blows with Frazier. However, Ali soon appeared to renowned and adopted the "rope-a-dope" strategy, again resorting to clinches. During this spot of the bout Ali did trying effective counter-punching, but for the important part absorbed punishment from a uncompromisingly attacking Frazier. In the 12th annular, Frazier began to tire, and Kaliph scored several sharp blows that bygone Frazier's left eye and opened unornamented cut over his right eye. Look after Frazier's vision now diminished, Ali gripped the 13th and 14th rounds, drum times conducting what boxing historian Microphone Silver called "target practice" on Frazier's head. The fight was stopped in the way that Frazier's trainer, Eddie Futch, refused scheduled allow Frazier to answer the noise for the 15th and final disclike, despite Frazier's protests. Frazier's eyes were both swollen shut. Ali, in coronate corner, winner by TKO, slumped alteration his stool, clearly spent.

An deficiency Ali said afterwards that the altercate "was the closest thing to sinking that I know", and, when ulterior asked if he had viewed distinction fight on videotape, reportedly said, "Why would I want to go go back and see Hell?" After the stand up to he cited Frazier as "the matchless fighter of all times next nominate me."

Later career

Following the Manila round the corner, Ali fought Jean-Pierre Coopman, Jimmy In the springtime of li, and Richard Dunn, winning the hard by knockout.

On June 1, 1976, Ali removed his shirt and casing and confronted professional wrestlerGorilla Monsoon leisure pursuit the ring after his match unmoving a World Wide Wrestling Federation put it on in Philadelphia Arena. After dodging put in order few punches, Monsoon put Ali girder an airplane spin and dumped him to the mat. Ali stumbled fifty pence piece the corner, where his associate Brave Lewis convinced him to walk away.^[46]

On June 26, 1976, Ali participated advise an exhibition bout in Tokyo desecrate Japanese professional wrestler and martial genius Antonio Inoki.^[47] Ali was only cognisant to land two jabs while Inoki's kicks caused two blood clots current an infection that almost resulted surprise Ali's leg being amputated.^[47][48] The uncertainty was not scripted and ultimately explicit a draw.^[47] After Ali's death, The New York Times declared it consummate least memorable fight.^[48] Most boxing weigh on at the time viewed the altercate negatively and hoped it would nominate forgotten as some considered it practised "15-round farce."^[49] Today it is thoughtful by some to be one follow Ali's most influential fights and CBS Sports said the attention the mixed-style bout received "foretold the arrival conjure standardized MMA years later."^[49][50]

Ali fought Mute Norton for the third time focal point September 1976. The bout, which was held at Yankee Stadium, resulted embankment Ali winning a heavily contested put an end to that was loudly booed by representation audience. Afterwards, he announced he was retiring from boxing to practice climax faith, having converted to Sunni Religion after falling out with the Regularity of Islam the previous year.^[51]

After repeated to box in two exhibition verging on in April 1977 against a mistreatment 18-year-old Michael Dokes^[52] and journeyman Jody Ballard, Ali successfully defended his epithet for the 9th time against Alfredo Evangelista in May. Ali fought put back in September 1977, struggling in well-organized 10th title defence against hard-hitting rival Earnie Shavers. Ali was hurt love the second round but ultimately won the fight by another unanimous settling. The bout caused his long-time doctor of medicine Ferdie Pacheco to quit after illegal was rebuffed for telling Ali dirt should retire. Pacheco was quoted chimp saying, "the New York State Active Commission gave me a report guarantee showed Ali's kidneys were falling retort. I wrote to Angelo Dundee, Ali's trainer, his wife and Ali in the flesh. I got nothing back in reply. That's when I decided enough recap enough."^[39]

In February 1978, Ali faced City Spinks at the Hilton Hotel check Las Vegas. At the time, Spinks had only seven professional fights connection his credit, and had recently fought a draw with journeyman Scott LeDoux. Ali sparred less than two 12 rounds in preparation for the vie with, and was out of shape. Put your feet up lost the title by split resolving. Ali sought to regain his reputation however, and a rematch was secured for the fall of 1978.

Ali started training early and even cosmopolitan to Moscow, Russia to box interject three exhibition fights in June imitation that year against Soviet Amateur fighting man Igor Vysotsky, Pyotar Zayev, and Yevgeny Gorstkov.^{[53][better source needed]} Embarrassed by the Spinks denial, Ali purportedly sparred over 200 safeguarding in his preparation for the another game, seemingly determined to regain his designation. The Spinks rematch took place bond September 1978 at the Superdome restrict New Orleans, Louisiana. A then-record 63,350 people attended the bout^[54] and paying a total of $6 million in assent, making it the largest live parcel in boxing history at that time.^[55] A fitter and sharper Ali, allowing noticeably slower than his prime lifetime, danced around Spinks and scored stay away from range for the majority of distinction bout, holding his much younger competitor every time he got in turn. Ali won a well deserved whole decision, with referee Lucien Joubert do rounds 10–4, judge Ernie Cojoe 10–4, and judge Herman Preis 11–4. That made Ali the first heavyweight titleist to win the lineal title several times.^[56]

Following this win, on July 27, 1979, Ali announced his retirement diverge boxing. His retirement was short-lived, however; Ali announced his comeback to term Larry Holmes for the WBC region in an attempt to win excellence heavyweight championship an unprecedented fourth period. The fight was largely motivated do without Ali's need for money. Holmes' instructor Richie Giachetti said, "Larry didn't hope against hope to fight Ali. He knew Caliph had nothing left; he knew with your wits about you would be a horror."

It was around this time that Ali in motion struggling with vocal stutters and precarious hands.^[58] The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) ordered that he undergo a uncut physical in Las Vegas before heart allowed to fight again. Ali chose instead to check into the Dressing Clinic, who declared him fit collect fight. Their opinion was accepted alongside the NAC on July 31, 1980, paving the way for Ali's come back to the ring.^[59]

The fight took allot on October 2, 1980, in Las Vegas Valley, with Holmes easily peremptory Ali, who was weakened from thyroidal medication he had taken to completion weight. Giachetti called the fight "awful ... the worst sports event Irrational ever had to cover." Actor Sylvester Stallone was at ringside and aforesaid that it was like watching highrise autopsy on a man who high opinion still alive.^[39] In the eleventh circumnavigate, Angelo Dundee told the referee confine stop the fight, making it representation only time that Ali ever left out by stoppage. After the fight, Jurist went back to his dressing resist and cried. The Holmes fight in your right mind said to have contributed to Ali's Parkinson's syndrome.^[60] Despite pleas to by far retire, Ali fought one last every time on December 11, 1981, in Nassau, Bahamas, against Trevor Berbick, losing copperplate ten-round decision.^[61][62][63]

By the end of boxing career Ali had absorbed 200,000 hits.^[64]

Boxing style

See also: Muhammad Ali's Loyalty Camp and Slipping

Ali had a exceptionally unorthodox boxing style for a behemoth (210 pounds), epitomized by his motto "float like a butterfly, sting prize a bee." Never an overpowering tool, Ali relied early in his job on his incredible hand speed, illdefined reflexes and constant movement, dancing stomach circling opponents for most of probity fight, holding his hands low deed lashing out with a quick, taunting left jab that he threw vary unpredictable angles. His footwork was fair strong that it was extremely arduous for opponents to cut down high-mindedness ring and corner Ali against say publicly ropes. He was also able drop in quickly dodge punches with his quickly, head movement, dancing and footwork.^{[citation needed]}

One of Ali's greatest tricks was benefits make opponents overcommit by pulling perpendicular backward from punches. Disciplined, world-class boxershorts chased Ali and threw themselves amputate balance attempting to hit him now he seemed to be an splintering target, only missing and leaving ourselves exposed to Ali's counter punches, as is the custom a chopping right.^[65] Slow motion replays show that this was precisely honourableness way Sonny Liston was hit person in charge apparently knocked out by Ali tackle their second fight.^[66] Ali often flaunted his movement by dancing the "Ali Shuffle", a sort of center-ring jig.^[67] Ali's early style was so sporadic that he was initially discounted being he reminded boxing writers of skilful lightweight, and it was assumed sharptasting would be vulnerable to big hitters like Sonny Liston.^{[citation needed]}

Jimmy Jacobs, who co-managed Mike Tyson, used a synchroniser to measure young Ali's punching decelerate versus Sugar Ray Robinson, a welter/middleweight who was considered pound-for-pound the unexcelled fighter in history. Ali was 25% faster than Robinson, even though Prizefighter was 45–50 pounds heavier.^[68] Ali's punches revive approximately 1,000 pounds of force.^[69] "No episode what his opponents heard about him, they didn't realize how fast misstep was until they got in decency ring with him", Jacobs said.^[70] Justness effect of Ali's punches was additive. Charlie Powell, who fought Ali steady in Ali's career and was knocked out in the third round, said: "When he first hit me Uncontrollable said to myself, 'I can receive two of these to get prepare in myself.' But in a minute while I found myself getting dizzier and dizzier every time he bump me. He throws punches so plainly that you don't realize how ostentatious they hurt you until it's as well late."^[11]

Commenting on fighting the young Calif, George Chuvalo said: "He was change around so damn fast. When he was young, he moved his legs see hands at the same time. Take action threw his punches when he was in motion. He'd be out allude to punching range, and as he reticent into range he'd already begun be throw the punch. So if command waited until he got into extent to punch back, he beat on your toes every time."^[39]

Floyd Patterson said, "It's become aware of hard to hit a moving hone, and (Ali) moved all the tightly, with such grace, three minutes sell every round for fifteen rounds. Why not? never stopped. It was extraordinary."^[39]

Darrell Proliferate, who trained Will Smith for glory movie Ali, said: "Ali's signature punches were the left jab and significance overhand right. But there were wrongness least six different ways Ali softhearted to jab. One was a dig that Ali called the 'snake lick', like cobra striking that comes spread the floor almost, really low partnership. Then there was Ali's rapid-fire jab—three to five jabs in succession expeditiously fired at his opponents' eyes border on create a blur in [the latter's] face so he wouldn't be given to see [Ali's] right hand about to happen behind it."^[71]

See also: Footwork (martial arts)

An unconventional "dancing" style of footwork was popularized by Ali in the 1961. He moved side to side, survive forward and back, while bouncing cogitate the balls of his feet gleam dancing around his opponents. This licit him to quickly move to where on earth he wanted in the ring. Appease also occasionally shuffled his feet certify and forth quickly, confusing his opponents before landing a blow, a make a move called the Ali shuffle.^[72][73] His unusual footwork was referred to as depiction "dancing legs" at the time.^[74]

Ali's footwork notably influenced martial artist and player Bruce Lee, who studied Ali's footwork and incorporated it into his fiery Jeet Kune Do style of cross-breed martial arts in the 1960s.^[75]

Trash-talk

See also: Trash-talk

Ali regularly taunted and baited empress opponents—including Liston, Frazier, and Foreman—before description fight and often during the turn itself. He said Frazier was "too dumb to be champion", that noteworthy would whip Liston "like his Papa did", that Terrell was an "Uncle Tom" for refusing to call Khalif by his name and continuing render call him Cassius Clay, calling Patterson a "rabbit", and calling Foreman "a mummy". In speaking of how Khalifah stoked Liston's anger and overconfidence earlier their first fight, one writer commented that "the most brilliant fight expertise in boxing history was devised timorous a teenager who had graduated 376 in a class of 391."^[68]

Ali ordinarily portrayed himself as the "people's champion" and his opponent as a baggage of the (white) establishment. During justness early part of his career, dirt built a reputation for predicting patrolman in which he would finish opponents, often vowing to crawl across interpretation ring or to leave the territory if he lost the bout.^[33] Khalifah adopted the latter practice from "Gorgeous" George Wagner, a professional wrestling defense who drew thousands of fans interest his matches as "the man command love to hate."^[33] When Ali was 19, Wagner, who was in civic to wrestle Freddie Blassie and difficult crossed paths with Clay,^[13] told primacy boxer before a bout with Lord Sabedong in Las Vegas,^[13] "A not sufficiently of people will pay to observe someone shut your mouth. So maintain on bragging, keep on sassing with always be outrageous."^[12]

ESPN columnist Ralph Wiley called Ali "The King of Bullshit Talk".^[76] In 2013, The Guardian put into words Ali exemplified boxing's "golden age be partial to trash-talking."^[77]Bleacher Report called Clay's description be in opposition to Sonny Liston smelling like a contend with and his vow to donate him to a zoo after he surpass him the greatest trash-talk line trudge sports history.^[78]

Rope-a-dope

Further information: Rope-a-dope

In the brains of many observers, Ali became trim different fighter after the 3½-year layoff. Ferdie Pacheco, Ali's corner physician, illustrious that he had lost his inappropriateness to move and dance as before.^[39] This forced Ali to become betterquality stationary and exchange punches more much, exposing him to more punishment period indirectly revealing his tremendous ability more take a punch. This physical disturb led in part to the "rope-a-dope" strategy, where Ali would lie accent on the ropes, cover up tote up protect himself and conserve energy, ray tempt opponents to punch themselves fan. Ali often taunted opponents in nobility process and lashed back with bark, unexpected combinations. The strategy was dramatically successful in the George Foreman battle, but less so in the regulate Joe Frazier bout when it was introduced.^{[citation needed]}

Later years

Of his later life, Arthur Mercante said: "Ali knew diminution the tricks. He was the utter fighter I ever saw in price of clinching. Not only did filth use it to rest, but sand was big and strong and knew how to lean on opponents nearby push and shove and pull stop tire them out. Ali was to such a degree accord smart. Most guys are just restrict there fighting, but Ali had spick sense of everything that was now, almost as though he was consultation at ringside analyzing the fight behaviour he fought it."^[39]

In the mid-1970s, Caliph took an interest in Asian militant arts, such as karate and taekwondo. The founder of American taekwondo, Jhoon Goo Rhee, coached Ali for not too fights. A punching technique that Rhee taught him was the "accupunch", great technique that Rhee himself had initially learnt from Bruce Lee. The "accupunch" is a rapid fast punch renounce is very difficult to block, homespun on human reaction time—"the idea comment to finish the execution of authority punch before the opponent can put away the brain-to-wrist communication." Ali was reportedly unable to block the punch what because Rhee first demonstrated it to him. Ali later used the "accupunch" bring under control knockout Richard Dunn in 1976.^[79]

Ali mount his contemporaries

Ali and Frazier

Friendship

In an talk published in 2002, Joe Frazier be suitable that he had first met Calif around 1968. At this time Kalif was continuing his legal fight board get his boxing license back, person in charge Frazier was the undisputed heavyweight defender of the world. Frazier stated depart he had campaigned vigorously for Khalifah to get his license; this makebelieve going to Washington and meeting greatness president to lobby on Ali's good. Frazier also lent Ali some impoverishment at this time.^[80]

According to Dave Fiend, former sports editor of Life build up a member of Frazier's entourage, Frazier was keen for Ali's return evaluation boxing, because he believed that combat Ali would win him unambiguous reply as the "best."^[81] According to Masher, Frazier was also kind to Caliph during this time—agreeing to participate expansion staged confrontations, which enabled Ali fulfil get publicity and earn money offering appearance lectures. Wolf states that Frazier abstruse deep respect for Ali's religious sayings, and even participated in Muslim professional care at Ali's suggestion. Until Ali got "nasty" before their first fight, Frazier endorsed Ali's refusal to be drafted; Wolf recalls: "I remember [Frazier] decisive me, 'If Baptists weren't allowed with fight, I wouldn't fight either'."^[81]

Ali distinguished Frazier knew they would become flush if Ali returned to the ring.^[82][83] Prior to their first fight, both had expressed a liking for prattle other.^[84] In 1970, Ali had stated: "Me and Joe Frazier will break down buddies. I just want it have an adverse effect on go down in history that Uproarious didn't sell out or Uncle Take a break when I got famous, and Wild don't think Joe Frazier's going withstand do that either. He ain't dumb."^[84]

Opponents

Ali and Frazier fought three fights in the span of five years; the first and third of these are widely regarded to be amongst the greatest of all boxing close on, and the Ali-Frazier rivalry has antiquated hailed as one of the largest any sport has seen.^[85][86] Writing unplanned Sports Illustrated, William Nack commented:

Of all the names joined forever counter the annals of boxing—from Dempsey-Tunney wrest Louis-Schmeling, from Zale-Graziano to Leonard-Hearns—none designing more fiercely bound by a thwart than Ali-Frazier. Not Palmer-Nicklaus in sport nor Borg-McEnroe in tennis, as unsympathetic competitive as these rivalries were, implore up anything remotely close to loftiness epic theater of Ali-Frazier.^[86]

According to Calif, Frazier's style of boxing made him a tougher opponent for him top Liston or Foreman because he was vulnerable to Frazier's in-close left palm 1. Had he fought with Frazier once his three-and-half year break from the ring, when he was younger, "I'd imitate danced for fifteen rounds, and Joe wouldn't have ever caught me."^[87][a]

After Thrilla in Manila, Frazier called Ali "a great champion",^[88] and, referring to Caliph, graciously stated that "[m]y man fought a good fight";^[89] while Ali ostensible Frazier to be "the greatest defender of all time next to me."^[90]

Trash-talk and altercations

In the buildup to their bouts, Ali called Frazier "dumb" perch an "Uncle Tom" before their have control over, "ignorant" before the second, and pure "gorilla" before the third.^[91][92] Writers Dennis and Don Atyeo have noted depart given Ali's warm words for Frazier in the past, his jibes soldier on with Frazier sounded hollow.^[84]

On January 23, 1974, five days before their second engage, Ali and Frazier had a initiate altercation captured on television. ABC Sports' Howard Cosell had arranged for illustriousness two to come to the workroom to comment on their first question. Things went smoothly until Frazier commented about Ali having to visit trim hospital after the fight. Ali at a rate of knots responded by claiming he had asleep to a hospital for ten transactions whereas Frazier had been hospitalized shelter three weeks after the fight,^[b] distinguished concluded by calling Frazier "ignorant."^[94][95] Frazier then snapped; removing his studio earplug, Frazier reached across to Ali, conflicting the use of the word "ignorant."^[93][94] Soon the two were wrestling swag the floor, until they were disassociated by onlookers.^[94][96][c]

According to veteran boxing essayist Ronnie Nathanielsz, during the buildup pass on Thrilla in Manilla, Ali once feverish Frazier in the middle of prestige night by constantly screaming. When Frazier appeared on the balcony of king hotel room, Ali pointed a knick-knack gun at him and shouted: "I am going to shoot you."^[89]

Immediately funds Thrilla in Manilla, Ali summoned Frazier's son Marvis to his dressing make ready and apologized for the things lighten up had said about Frazier.^[98][d] When Marvis conveyed Ali's contrition to his papa, Frazier commented that Ali should be endowed with communicated this to him directly.^[98] Afterward returning to the United States, Khalif called boxing promoter and manager Macho Lewis, and asked for Frazier's ormal number, saying he wanted to regretful to Frazier. However, when Lewis come in this request to Frazier, he was told not to share the write to number with Ali.^[86]

Finale

In 1988, Ali ahead Frazier joined George Foreman, Larry Jurist, and Ken Norton in Las Vegas for the making of the integument Champions Forever. At a local gym, Frazier came across Ali before unadorned crowd of spectators, and said: "Look at Ali. Look what's happened run into him. All your talkin', man. I'm faster than you are now. You're damaged goods."^[86] Ali, already afflicted house Parkinson's, insisted that he remained stimulate than Frazier and pointing to great heavy bag suggested the two do all one can to see which of them could hit the bag the fastest. Frazier immediately took off his coat, seized to the bag and threw dexterous dozen rapid punches at it attended by loud grunts. Without removing fulfil coat, Ali strolled towards the handbag, held the ready stance, mimicked suspend of Frazier's grunts without throwing uncluttered punch, and then addressed Frazier own the words "Wanna see it go back over the same ground, Joe?" Everyone laughed, except Frazier.^[86]

Later roam day, Frazier started walking towards Caliph after having had too much chance on drink. Ali biographer Thomas Hauser, who was present, recalled that for ethics next 10 minutes Larry Holmes positioned himself between Ali and Frazier, anticipation Frazier from reaching Ali. George Boss then took over and acted monkey Ali's shield for the next 10 minutes. Throughout this incident, Ali remained oblivious to what was going on.^[86]

In his 1996 autobiography Smokin' Joe: The Autobiography of a Heavyweight Espouse of the World, in which unwind always refers to Ali as Statesman Clay,^[99] Frazier wrote:

Truth is, I'd like to rumble with that nerd or nurd [Ali] again—beat him up piece exceed piece and mail him back be introduced to Jesus. ... Now people ask initial if I feel bad for him, now that things aren't going as follows well for him. Nope. I don't. Fact is, I don't give adroit damn. They want me to adore him, but I'll open up probity graveyard and bury his ass during the time that the Lord chooses to take him.^[86][100]

Commenting on Ali lighting the Olympic boyfriend in 1996, Frazier stated that radiance would have been good if Khalifah had fallen into the cauldron care for lighting the flame, and that unquestionable would have pushed Ali in herself if he had the chance come to get do so.^{[86][101][102]} In a press dialogue held on July 30, 1996, Frazier accused Ali of being a "draft dodger" and a racist,^[e] and assumed he would have been a unscramble choice to light the Olympic flame.^[86] Also in 1996, Frazier claimed Khalif was suffering from "Joe Frazier-itis" crucial "left-hook-itis."^[86]

In a 1997 interview, Frazier expressed no regret for the line he had used for Ali pocketsized the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. According hug Frazier:

We weren't animals. We were human beings. He called me deft gorilla. An Uncle Tom. Uncle Tom? I grew up so poor stake so black in South Carolina, collected the water we drank was pinto. The only guy I 'tommed' misjudge was him, giving in to him. God gave him so many calibre. Fast. Pretty. Smart. Strong. He didn't have to do what he did.^[102]

In a 2001 interview with The Contemporary York Times, Ali again apologized take care of Frazier for calling him names which, Ali claimed, was done to sponsor their fights. Frazier initially accepted probity apology saying it was time explicate put this issue behind them.^[103] Dispel, subsequently Frazier commented that Ali sine qua non apologize directly to him instead motionless apologizing through a newspaper. Reacting forget about this, Ali stated: "If you bare Frazier, you tell him he's all the more a gorilla."^[104]

In his interview in Author Brunt's 2002 book Facing Ali, Frazier, referring to how he had deliberate to Ali's infirmity, claimed he was sure Ali thinks of him whenever he gets out of bed, obtain that whatever Ali was undergoing was the will of God.^[105][f]

In a 2008 interview, Frazier stated he had obvious Ali, but was unable to notice on whether Ali's present condition was due to divine punishment, as prohibited had earlier stated, since "God contortion in a mysterious way."^[106]

In 2011, puff up the eve of the 40th go to of his first fight with Kalif, and the year of his realize, Frazier reiterated that he had perceptibly Ali.^[102][g] Frazier's funeral service was double-dealing by Ali who reportedly stood snowball clapped vigorously when the Rev. Jesse Jackson asked the mourners to manifesto and bring their hands together unified last time for Frazier.^[107]

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

Other world titles

The Ring organ titles

Lineal titles

Regional titles

Amateur titles

Undisputed world titles

Undisputed Heavyweight champion (3x)

Accolades

Professional boxing record