TIL: Muhammad Ali boxed an exhibition against an NFL player

[Mooshashi]

Alzado really tried to win and he was a big, vicious, mental football player. I lived in Denver those days and remember this fight. I sat next to Alzado at a Benihana's one night....his shoulders looked to be about 4' wide.
Props to Ali for fighting Alzado in the hot sun for 8 rounds.

[4truth]

That was a very good fight. Lyle Alzado more than held his own against the champ; Even though Ali was retired and washed up by that time.

If you think for one minute that Ali could not have ended the exhibition fight anytime he wanted, well, you have another think coming.

[LADIV]

Nasukawa is a professional fighter. Alzado was a football player. If Mayweather boxed Russell Wilson, I wouldn't expect him to go for the kill either.

rusell Wilson is actually a boxer not pro but he takes up boxing

[champion4ever]

If you think for one minute that Ali could not have ended the exhibition fight anytime he wanted, well, you have another think coming.

Perhaps he could but it would have been very unlikely because one he wasn't in the best of shape and two he even struggled with a novice opponent in Leon Spinks and lost the title to him; Which was a tale-tell sign that he was a declining shot fighter.

[soul_survivor]

This was a genuine exhibition, a bit of a laugh, against a guy who actually matched Ali for size.

Mayweather fought a 20 year old no body who wasl ike 5'4''.

[KingHippo]

Many boxing legends had weird exhibition fights. I think Foreman beat 3 bums in one day once.

If you think for one minute that Ali could not have ended the exhibition fight anytime he wanted, well, you have another think coming.

I don't think you know who Lyle Alzado was. It was more like Ali against a crazed psychopath on coke and steroids who gets hit in the head for a living too.

[MastaBlasta]

Id rather get 8-9 million for 1 round than 3 . But that's just me .

Ding! You win the internet with that one!

[Lomadeaux]

Lyle Alzado knew how to fight.

[champion4ever]

Lyle Alzado knew how to fight.

Yes, Lyle Alzado was a standout amateur fighter with a record of 44-1 before losing in the semifinals in the Golden Gloves back in 1969.

[HitmanTommy]

Oh i would. The man has no class.

How is that Floyd's fault? He was giving the crowd a show with a friendly exhibition as promised.

It wasn't until Tenshin started throwing punches with real intent to do damage, that Floyd decided to put him away.