Arum Blasts Producers of The ‘Thrilla’ Documentary

[Dave Rado]

But the truth is, Ali was an extraordinary fighter AND a questionable human being.

He was a complex human being, with good and bad aspects to his character. The programme focussed only on the bad - and grossly exaggerated them. He was certainly no saint, but nor was he the person the film pretended he was. And to pretend the stands he took on civil rights and the war were insincere, without any evidence, was just gutter journalism. And even if those claims had been true, they would have had no relevance whatsoever to telling Frazier's side of the story, which was what the film pretended to be about.

As I said before it did Frazier a disservice, because he deserves to have a film made that tells his side of the story in a genuine way, without resorting to character assassination, distortion and half truths.

[deanrw]

Ali came to my high school (Centennial High School 1999 compton california)
and he donated money for computers and books.
sign gloves and gave at least 300 individual pictures.. and I remember actually seeing this man in person thinking to myself damn here is a person who cant even really talk no more but literally had the entire school shutting the fucck up and listening to every word he tryed to speak.

this man is the sole reason allot of people even stared watching boxing.
and he is the first athlete to stand for something that mattered
in the post jackie Robinson era of sports.

to this day they will never be another athlete more important than Ali.
No one.

Great Post. When I was about 5 years old. I remember my father sitting me on his knee while watching Ali fight. Ali was dad's hero and dad still talks about him. That is when I fell in love with the sport. At age 6 he signed me up in a boxing club

36 Years later, I am still here. Dad is closing in on 84 years old and still buys PPV's. He shared the Ali Magic with me and anyone else who would listen.

[joe90210]

it was a great documentary, I agree with everything Frazier said about Ali

[jvsnypes]

I think Frazier is a great fighter.I also understand why he is so scarred by Ali's insults.But the bottom line is, Muhammed Ali is the greatest heavyweight of all time.There is none that comes close.Boxing is the hurt business.If the insults offended him that much,he had the ultimate opportunity to even the score in the ring.I think its more hurting to Frazier that Ali dogged him verbally and beat him in the ring twice.Like him or not Ali talked the talk and walked the walk.But if people really knew Ali,they would realize he's not a mean spirited person.He was a jokester and a clown.He wanted to make people laugh.Its just like a lot of comedians are today.They say mean things but its not to be taken personally.I do think that Ali felt superior to Frazier as a man and an athlete.Frazier had 3 chances to prove him wrong.Twice he couldn't.Old man or not,get over it. In life,there are certain things you have to swallow and deal with.Truth be told,Ali was the superior fighter.

[Dave Rado]

But the bottom line is, Muhammed Ali is the greatest heavyweight of all time.There is none that comes close.

As a self-promoter no one came close. As a fighter, Joe Louis is rated no. 1 by many boxing experts.

[Xplosivo]

everyone blast this bandwagonin prick Sin_City with negative karma for saying ali deserved parkinsons

[handler000]

Not really. Jack Johnson got under his opponent's skin just because of the color of his own skin. The weren't going to let a N!gga beat them. He was determined he would. He was the only black man in America to get paid to beat up white folks. That is a different form of psychology. Ali actually sought to antagonize his opponents . In a way you're right. Johnson had the hate of his opponents. Ali created it.

Ali was not right. No one is saying that. Are you black? Have you talked to any black people about that? I grew up during that time and Frazier was not out favor with blacks. As a matter of fact, many of your 'hood' folks was going for Frazier. You know the people that usually don't matterto most on this board? The ones many insult and look down upon. You could go into any barbershop and half the people were for Ali and half for Frazier. Believe me!!!! I never heard anyone in the black community taking what Ali said seriously. That was a show for white folks. Ali knew Joe was a real hood brotha and that would piss him off to call him an uncle tom. These are things that if you're not black you wouldn't nor I not understand. Just like we don't like others don't see what the big deal about calling a Puerto Rican a Mexican. That was an internal game Ali played with Joe. You watch one documentary and think you have a grasp of the whole thing. Yet, you're actually taking everything way out of context. The funny thing about your post is you reference his beliefs behind the living separate issue. MANY blacks and whites were in agreement on that during that time. Most blacks DIDN'T want to live among white people which turns out to be a ****** way of thinking. While the KKK wanted separate living lifestyles. Ali and many blacks were for separate BUT equal. Your lack of knowledge about the subjects you post about only shows that you watch too much ****ing TV.

Excellent posting!!!!

[kmcc505]

Ali was the worst kind of bully-- a popular one. As great of a fighter as he was, it was about time someone made a film about the real Ali. Or at least give us something besides the pre-packaged "Greatest" garbage.

Also, Joe Louis would own Ali.

[-EX-]

Ali was the worst kind of bully-- a popular one. As great of a fighter as he was, it was about time someone made a film about the real Ali. Or at least give us something besides the pre-packaged "Greatest" garbage.

Also, Joe Louis would own Ali.

Ali wudda danced around Louis all night. Ali is just too big for him and u add in the skill the footwork and everything else. Please...

[supremelygifted]

Jack Johnson did more than just show up and have people look at his skin color. He flaunted his life-style in front of everybody. He taunted the fighter and the crowd during fights. He did it before the fight as well just to get fights. He did many things.

However, I'm not sure Johnson was able to make a seperation between him and other black fighters that he fought as far as making it personal between the two. That would be interesting to know...I'm not really that sure. Ali had the ability to do it with everybody.

Here's a start:

Part 1...rest is on youtube




And Ali's words



Good books on him as well...



I think Ali was a mix of being misled by the NOI and guilty of being ignorant (because of his age probably) and misunderstood in other ways that it was just for fun. He was a contradictory character and I think people pointed this out to him like Michael Parkinson. Forget who else mentioned it as well but there was a story of how Ali was on the bus with reporters and Ali was having fun with everybody and got along with everybody...everybody was equal and there was no separation and it came off "real."

There were different sides to Ali and the best side actually may have been "Clay" as far as likening everybody but maybe I'm wrong. It's hard to say if you don't know the man and you would have to know what he was like as a youth on up. And even then, how many really know someone?

Excellent post!