The day my love for boxing died

in teamsouthafrica •  6 years ago 

I was born in 1959 and thus grew up in the time of Mohammed Ali. When I first heard of him, his name was Cassius Clay. He then converted to Islam and his name became Mohammed Ali. I was only about four or five years old at the time. It seemed strange to me that he would change his name. I was too young to understand any of the issues at the time. It was from him that I learned the phrase “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”. He was a good looking man in my opinion. He seemed a hero to so many people.

My Dad’s family grew up with the manly art of boxing. When I was little, my Dad used to share bed time stories of the mighty boxers of his day and of course, Mohammed Ali. His refusal to fight in Vietnam cost him (and us) the best years of his boxing career. The heavyweight boxers of the world seemed to be the most popular with the public, I suppose it was their ability to quickly end a fight with their powerful punches.

I still remember my Dad taking me to the Drive In with him (just the two of us as my brothers were too little) to see Mohammed Ali fighting Joe Frazier in 1975. It was their second fight at Madison Gardens in New York and I found it quite boring as Ali was always clinching Joe Frazier after a flurry of blows. Ali won on points and to me was the better boxer by a fair margin. Neither man was a world champion at the time.

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Then in February 1978, Ali lost his title to a virtual unknown, Leon Spinks had fought not many fights as a professional fighter and not many of those were even decent fighters. It was a shock to the world, Ali was getting old but to lose to a virtual beginner professional from a lighter weight division? In the ensuing months, the valid contender, Ken Norton, was awarded the WBC title as Spinks justifiably refused to fight him, just as Ali had been dodging him for probably the same reason. Then in September of the same year, Ali beat Spinks in a rematch winning on points. By now I was smelling a rat and felt that heavyweight boxing was being rigged.

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Then in June 1979, all my fears were realised when Spinks fought the “White Hope” from South Africa, Gerrie Coetzee. Gerry knocked him out in the first round. Although Gerrie was a good South African boxer, I didn’t feel that he was quite the world’s best. I now knew that boxing was rigged and Ali was a tainted man. His third world title was phoney to me.

Boxing had become a farce, maybe it was always so in the past, but I had viewed Mohammed Ali as “the greatest”. To me the boxer who had my greatest respect was Joe Frazier. He didn’t have the mouth of Ali and maybe not even the same skill levels but he was a fighter with tremendous courage and a great heart. He seemed incorruptible.

Smokin’ Joe is my man.

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Your writing is very good and your writing skills are like a professional writer. I like boxing very much and Mohammad Ali is one of the best boxer

I agree with you

Oh yes, my friend, the Mohammad Ali was considered by many to be the greatest athlete and for me too, but what I learned now from you, too, has led me into a blind alley and I believe that the Mohammad Ali should not be engaged in falsification and spoil its legendary way in boxing! Thank you @fred703

  ·  6 years ago (edited)

Mohammed Ali is one of the most famous boxers in the history of world boxing. I know September 15, 1978. Ali won by unanimous decision. Then he left the boxing. Due to financial difficulties, he soon again had to enter the ring. But only in order to lose two fights - one in October 1980 against Larry Holmes and the second against Trevor Berbick in December 1981. Then Ali finally left the box. I think he won for the defeat was not small money. Most likely a lack of money, forced him to go for it

There is something I really like about Muhammad Ali. He does not hit his opponents when they are falling to the ground. He stops boxing at the first glance he realizes his opponent is falling. Other boxers try to make sure the opponents will not raise to their feet and hit them while they are falling defenseless. He is not only the greatest champion ever, he is also the noblest fighter ever

Muhammad Ali your the best
God bless your soul
You will never be forgotten ❤️🔥

Ali is the greatest boxer in boxing history.. Boxing is the only sport you can get your brain shook, your money took and your name in the undertaker book.@fred703

Mohammed Ali is the greatest boxer. His boxing history is rememberable. SO we always remember him. Thanks for sharing with us @fred703.

I don't like to watch boxing.but I know the only boxer's name which was Muhammad Ali.he earned good name.he was such a nice man too.for me boxing is end with his death.

A very beautiful post dear. I appreciate your work. Legends never die. He alives in our heart for thousands years. Thanks sir @fred703 for sharing the details of the boxing legend Mohammad Ali's life sharing with us. He is legend of legends.

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He (Mohammad Ali) was a great boxer , i love him. He made the history. This blog is written great.

Legends never die. He alives in our heart for thousands years. Thanks sir @fred703 for sharing the details of the boxing legend Mohammad Ali's life sharing with us.

Thanks for sharing this post@fred703 sir...

Mohammed Ali the great boxing legend. We never forget him.

Mohammed Ali
The great boxing legend. We
Never forget him.

                 - mhyeasin


I'm a bot. I detect haiku.

Thank you. I like haiku.

Really a sad news.

Boxing is one of the most valuable game and Mohammad Ali is the all time best boxer in the world. I like him very much. He is the icon of boxing world.

yes he is really a big heart person and good fighter....

@Muhammad Ali is the greatest @boxer in the @world cuz a lot of reasons ☺

The Guy @Who is @Legendary.

Wow dude ,

This guys is legend 😎😎 Nothing to say about this guy .

The @Legend

Knowing your story as somebody who had a firsthand experience of this glorious period in time is fascinating @fred703. I'm not a fan of boxing, but I know how glamorized it is now.

The story of Mohammed Ali Clay The greatest story I can hear
Fighter explain but it is a very big head
I love him so much

I must say, that coming from a younger generation and not having seen the fights myself, the only things I have heard about Mohammed Ali are all good. Although it would not surprise me to learn that the fights were rigged, it is still disappointing to think that a champion like that would resort to such things.

Having said that, cheating in sport has become so commonplace that one just needs to remember the recent doping scandals in cycling to realise how rife it is.

Muhammad Ali is the greatest boxer .muhammad Ali is the world champion.he was a good muslim .

Great take on Boxing I am about the same age and feel the same as you, I enjoyed Ali early on but had bad feelings later on his career as you did

  ·  6 years ago Reveal Comment

Wow. Great information. I have heard from many sport analysts that Mohammed Ali is their best boxer but have not seen his fight before. I have watched Mayweather fight and to me, he's the greatest because I didn't get the chance to watch Mohammed Ali. I think Africa had the best of boxer in years past. I remember the Ghanaian legend Azuma just celebrated his 60th birthday. Do you think Mohammed Ali was better than Mark Tyson and Mayweather?

My favourite was Rocky Marciano. With 49 wins out of 49 fights, there was nothing to touch him and no one can say Ali would have beaten him, in my opinion. {Wikipedia}(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Marciano)

Good old boxing days! Thanks for sharing this nice remainder!