Why was Ali so extremely active?

[JakeTheBoxer]

He had 4 fights in 1975, 4 fights in 1976. he was already past his prime than.

Prime version: 5 fights in 1966.

He fought all contenders and all fringe contenders in his era and that is in his 20 years fighting. That is why is he the greatest.

[tokon]

$$$$! He had an expensive lifestyle and the black ******s leeching him.

[jaded]

In 1966 Joe Frazier fought 7 times. It wasn't unusual in those days. In 1965 Sugar Ray Robinson fought 14 times.

[JakeTheBoxer]

In 1966 Joe Frazier fought 7 times. It wasn't unusual in those days. In 1965 Sugar Ray Robinson fought 14 times.

I hear what you say but Ali was the biggest boxing icon ever. I would say that fighting twice should be enough for him?

[Willie Pep 229]

Ali and Frazier had a 2.5 million guarantee for The Fight. They took in, most say, around five million each.

Ali and Foreman had a five million guarantee for Zaire. (Don't know the final figures.)

For most of his other fights he received considerably less. His fight with Richard Dunn got him around a half a million in 1975 or 1976.

Ali also only pulled in around 44% of his own purses (before taxes). Had many hands in his pocket.

(Amazingly Anglo Dundee was not one of them; he never got a % from Ali only flat rates. I guess the NOI kept him at a distance.)

But in the end I think Ali fought often because he was old school and thought he was suppose fight often. I once heard him say he wanted to mimic Joe Louis and have his own 'bum of the month' club.

I think we can blame SRL for being the first (smart enough, popular enough fighter) to create a career where he made fighting infrequently a positive negotiating tactic. Good for him, bad for us.

[YGriffith]

They didn't know much about brain damage i guess.

[QueensburyRules]

In 1966 Joe Frazier fought 7 times. It wasn't unusual in those days. In 1965 Sugar Ray Robinson fought 14 times.

- - U shush now!

OP needing a hero worshipping thread, and Ali, bless him, R.I.P...

[Willow The Wisp]

Because he was great and had guts.

[The Old LefHook]

He had a lot of chowder to put on the table, and his Mossback friends wanted their share

[Nash out]

Hi all, this is Boxingscene Hall of Famer and boxing historian the Great Nash delivering the verdict: There was no Netflix or computer games back then, he had to fight more to fill his time. Nash out.