Since we are on Ali
Since we are on Ali
I thought he got a lot of gifts. Thought he lost all 3 Norton fights. The whole cut glove thing when Henry Copper clocked him - he was out. Doug Jones has a gripe back in the day. Jimmy Young and the Acorn Ernie Shavers seemed to do enough.
Other stuff: I don't have an issue with his stance on the war. I think he was right! I thought he was funny and clever and did an excellent job with the media. They were like bread and butter.
It's true he is the godfather of trash talk and angry rhetoric that spun off from that. But Ali did it with humor and a certain charm that made him likable.
Everyone else has failed miserably in their attempts at copying "the greatest." And unfortunately, sports is worse off for it.
He hung around way too long. He should have left after manila in 75. He ruined himself.
Further, just before his exile in around 1967, in that period, he was in his prime and was becoming something special. His man strength was just showing itself and his skills were primed and he still had his reflexes and athleticism. He would have been scary form 67-70 if he never left.
Lastly, he was a money fighter. He came up big when people didn't think he could - Liston, Foreman and ultimately Frazier. He fought everyone in a career span of 20 years, never ducked anyone and always wanted the biggest challenge. All in all, he was pretty damn special and a mythical, huge figure for the ages, particularity the 60's.
