Ali vs. Bonavena

[Yogi]

I was thinking of that when you talked about Tiger's strength. You made the point of how few middleweights in history could really stand a chance in a shootout with Tiger but if anyone could hold his own it was Cerdan. Tremendous strength and really vicious punching on the inside coupled with great athleticism and physical and mental toughness and grit. Fighting one handed against one of the greatest pressure fighters ever in LaMotta? That guy really had it all and shot the theory that the french can't fight between the eyes. I love watching footage of Cerdan.

I couldn't even hope to guess how a fight with them would go. I think with such evenly matched well conditioned all time great middleweights, both aggresive and both with victory, not survival, on the mind, you'd have one of the greatest wars of all time.

There would be many winners in this fight. Every man and woman who would see it.

Cerdan is a wonderful fighter to watch, isn't he?

One of my favourites to watch, as well, and has been for a long-ass time. It's also great to see another boxing fan, of whom I have great respect for, have that same or similiar high opinion of Cerdan that I've had for as long as I can remember. You know it used to be tough being a Cerdan appreciator (as I was when I first started posted on the internet), because you'd come across those typicals who'd say the same thing over and over again, which was along the lines of; "Cerdan was just a European bum who beat up on other European bums". Well, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but that was generally the jist of it every time I tried to talk Cerdan. Not too many had actually seen him fight, so it was really tough defending Cerdan against the throng of those opinions. But now...well, a Cerdan fight or five (or more) can be easily viewed on the internet now, thanks to youtube and other sites like Cerdan's home site, and it feels good to know that others can see what a great & gifted all around fighting talent he really was.

I guess I just feel my high opinion of Cerdan from all this time has been validated (or something) every time a high opinion of him is expressed by others such as yourself, K-Dogg, and other posters of that quality.

[butterfly1964]

Nope, Ali must've been feather fisted if he couldn't knock out or even knock down the "glass chinned" pair of Ken Norton & Earnie Shavers in some 50+ rounds of boxing.

*takes tongue out of cheek*

And what makes Ken Norton chinny? Because he was ko'd by the hardest punchers in boxing history?

[Kid Achilles]

Re-read that post again, taking special note of the "tongue in cheek" part.

[butterfly1964]

Re-read that post again, taking special note of the "tongue in cheek" part.

I know he was joking about Ali being featherfisted, but he did say than Norton's chin was weak. It isn't great, but IMO it's not weak.

[BuddyChacon]

And what makes Ken Norton chinny? Because he was ko'd by the hardest punchers in boxing history?

You think Cooney is one of the hardest punchers in boxing history? Wow, I know your talking about George but I found that funny.

[sleazyfellow]

norton was over the hill for the cooney fight...if he would of fought prime kenny it would of been a longer fight...not saying he wouldnt get koed eventually, but it would of at least went 5 rounds instead of a blowout

[yrrej]

Ali, like a lot of fighters, had limited boxing skills, but great physical assets. He had to be on top of his game all the time. What set Ali (and the great heavyweights) apart from the also-rans was his tremendous heart.....

[butterfly1964]

You think Cooney is one of the hardest punchers in boxing history? Wow, I know your talking about George but I found that funny.

Well, isn't he? On pure power alone. I'm not talking about how great a fighter or even pure punching skills, just the heaviness of the hands he would make the top ten.

[LondonRingRules]

I saw Ali - Bonavena on ESPN classic. Ali was in comftorable lead going into 15th round. Bonavena needed a knock down to win, but it was Ali who scored a knock out. First Frazier - Bonavena fight was very close. Frazier was down twice in second round. I believe Frazier won split decision.

** Bonavena was winning the pro fight junior. He roughed up Ali bad, put him on ***** street once. Ali got a ref that allowed Ali to stand ring center after knocking Oscar down.

Oscar was dumber'n a mule and jumped up sans a count and Ali slapped him down again. Ali coulda been DQed easily, just like the 2nd Liston fight, ect, but he was the star, and without Oscar there would be no Frazier series.

[butterfly1964]

** Bonavena was winning the pro fight junior. He roughed up Ali bad, put him on ***** street once. Ali got a ref that allowed Ali to stand ring center after knocking Oscar down.

Oscar was dumber'n a mule and jumped up sans a count and Ali slapped him down again. Ali coulda been DQed easily, just like the 2nd Liston fight, ect, but he was the star, and without Oscar there would be no Frazier series.

No, he wasn't winning. Ali was slightly ahead.