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What is Ali's true record ?
The Greatest's official record is 56 (KO 37) - 5 (KO 1). After his comeback, most people agree to say Ali was never the same again. However, that somewhat diminished fighter that he became was still kicking most butts that were put in front of him.
But as many other great fighters that came before and after him, I think judges may have given him gifts quite a couple of times, some of which I know, and some of which that maybe I don't know of.
I'm particularly thinking about Young, who Ali fought in 1976. Ali came into the fight weighing 230 lbs, the heaviest he had ever been. His poor conditionning showed up immediately, as he barely threw punches in the first 3 rounds, just taunting Young and getting punched, fighting flat footed, with his hands raised like Foreman. It is needless to say that was not typical of him. Norton, who was watching the fight from ringside, didn't want to tell how he scored it, because he wished Ali would win for a third showdown with him to happen ($).
His wish was granted. Ali got away with what I would dare to call a pure robbery. I scored it 9 rounds to 6 for Young. It could have been 8 rounds to 7for Young in the worst case.
Young : 1-2-3-8-9-10-14-15
Ali : 4-5-6-7-12-13
So that is one gift decision Ali had that I know of. But what about the 2 wins over Norton ? A lot of people say Norton beat Ali 3 times. I don't know, as I have only watched the first of their 3 showdowns, the one and only bout that was awarded to Norton (a SD that should have been a UD). Since I do know Ali has had many poor showings and performances (like the Bonavena fight), I wonder if he ever had any more gifts. I recall that Shavers may have beaten him, but I don't recall what was my scorecard exactly. But I remember I thought Shavers should have won the fight.
So his record could (or should ?) be 52 (ko 37) - 9 (ko 1), a record that starts resembling to the one of Holyfield. Just like Holyfield, Ali fought the best opposition out there, but his inconsistency and gift decisions cannot be overlooked. Is Ali a bit overrated ? Have people bought too much in his auto-proclamation as ''the Greatest'' ? To what point his many very sloppy performances and gift decisions should play against him when we rank him, some of which occuring when he was not shot ?
Do you think Ali's record should be different ? Worse ? Do you know of other gift decisions he's been given ? Does Ali deserve to be considered the Greatest heavyweight of all-time, ahead of men like Louis who maybe had 1 gift (Walcott I) in their whole careers, and only 1, 2 or 3 losses while facing the best opposition available, like Lewis and Jeffries ?
The Greatest's official record is 56 (KO 37) - 5 (KO 1). After his comeback, most people agree to say Ali was never the same again. However, that somewhat diminished fighter that he became was still kicking most butts that were put in front of him.
But as many other great fighters that came before and after him, I think judges may have given him gifts quite a couple of times, some of which I know, and some of which that maybe I don't know of.
I'm particularly thinking about Young, who Ali fought in 1976. Ali came into the fight weighing 230 lbs, the heaviest he had ever been. His poor conditionning showed up immediately, as he barely threw punches in the first 3 rounds, just taunting Young and getting punched, fighting flat footed, with his hands raised like Foreman. It is needless to say that was not typical of him. Norton, who was watching the fight from ringside, didn't want to tell how he scored it, because he wished Ali would win for a third showdown with him to happen ($).
His wish was granted. Ali got away with what I would dare to call a pure robbery. I scored it 9 rounds to 6 for Young. It could have been 8 rounds to 7for Young in the worst case.
Young : 1-2-3-8-9-10-14-15
Ali : 4-5-6-7-12-13
So that is one gift decision Ali had that I know of. But what about the 2 wins over Norton ? A lot of people say Norton beat Ali 3 times. I don't know, as I have only watched the first of their 3 showdowns, the one and only bout that was awarded to Norton (a SD that should have been a UD). Since I do know Ali has had many poor showings and performances (like the Bonavena fight), I wonder if he ever had any more gifts. I recall that Shavers may have beaten him, but I don't recall what was my scorecard exactly. But I remember I thought Shavers should have won the fight.
So his record could (or should ?) be 52 (ko 37) - 9 (ko 1), a record that starts resembling to the one of Holyfield. Just like Holyfield, Ali fought the best opposition out there, but his inconsistency and gift decisions cannot be overlooked. Is Ali a bit overrated ? Have people bought too much in his auto-proclamation as ''the Greatest'' ? To what point his many very sloppy performances and gift decisions should play against him when we rank him, some of which occuring when he was not shot ?
Do you think Ali's record should be different ? Worse ? Do you know of other gift decisions he's been given ? Does Ali deserve to be considered the Greatest heavyweight of all-time, ahead of men like Louis who maybe had 1 gift (Walcott I) in their whole careers, and only 1, 2 or 3 losses while facing the best opposition available, like Lewis and Jeffries ?
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