When they're done ...

[Suckmedry]

Ali was a fighter first and foremost and nothing would have stopped him getting in the ring.

I see where you are coming from though. The Holmes fight was a disgrace. When even the winning opponent clearly doesn't want to continue the fight it should be immediately stopped.

[Weltschmerz]

Ali should have retired way earlier than he did. He was too greedy I suppose.

[soul_survivor]

Ali should have retired way earlier than he did. He was too greedy I suppose.

with regards to Ali, beating Shavers should have been his retirement party...he carried on against Spinks and regained his title in front of an adoring crowd in which he turned back the hands of time and looked damn good, again, another perfect opportunity missed to go out on top.

[Weltschmerz]

with regards to Ali, beating Shavers should have been his retirement party...he carried on against Spinks and regained his title in front of an adoring crowd in which he turned back the hands of time and looked damn good, again, another perfect opportunity missed to go out on top.

Well absolutely. It was a sad ending to his career.

[BKM-2010]

I think the only thing that stopped Ali from going on for even longer was his disease that was getting worse.

As sad as his last 2 fights were, it could have been worse had he continued(in this case with no parkinsons). He could have been knocked out by an up and comer trying to make a name or taken 15 round beatings from guys that wouldn't have Holmes' mercy.

As meaningless as that would have been to his legacy, it still matters to people. There are no images of an old unconcious Ali being counted out on the canvas or a ref stepping in to pull a fighter off of him as a TKO, and I'm grateful for that atleast.

[Ray Corso]

The question about "letting him continue" is for the fighter and management not a trainer! The trainer is there for the fight and will protect the fighter then. The continuation of a career rarely has anything to do with a trainer.
I have refused to work a few corners years ago concerning fighters I thought had their best a long time ago. They still fought and I have mixed emotions because one was hurt and its possible the out come could have been different if I were there. It maybe to little to late but that's the sort of predicament trainers have if your around long enough.


Please stop calling pro fighters ignorant of the dangers!! They know and its a suppressed thought just like a fighter pilot or police officer has. Their are people who are life long career persons and a fighter at the end is usually a sad situation. You don't understand them to begin with because your not in their shoes and you have no concept of their needs!
Don't try to understand why they start and how they should finish because you don't share their needs and reasons.
Unless your a former boxer or a physic major you don't have the skills to explore!
Ray

ps soulS the second Spinks fight he was almost KO'd at the very end! Leon had him reeling and ready to go, it was sad but he got into weight loss shape but hardly boxed 20 rounds and Leon was in great shape!