While Leon Spinks, the 24-year-old Olympic champion was pounding out a close but unanimous 10-round decision last night over Alfio Righetti, the hitherto undefeated champion of Italy, more attention was focused on M. Ali who sat watching, then on the fighters.
Although the fight was active enough and more competitive than some had expected, there was no doubt that Ali was the only person in the building who really mattered. The crowd of 3000 reacted much more noisely to his prefight speech from the ring than to anything that happened in it afterward.
“I am here for one reason, to see which of these fighters is worthy of challenging me,” Ali cried out in his customary evangelical style, but in a voice that sounds hoarser than it used to. “I am the savior, the prophet, the resurrector,” he went on. “I am the onliest one keeping this thing alive. I am 36 years old and I’m still the greatest fighter of all time.”
Ex NYT Leonard Koppett 11/20/77
Showing posts with label boxing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boxing. Show all posts
Sunday, November 20, 1977
Saturday, October 01, 1977
Ali, Pele and the Time to Retire
Muhammad Ali sounded as if he wished he were Pele, whose soccer farewell will occur today with festive elegance. “It’s important to get out with the title, with the briefcase, with the necktie.” (Pele visited Ali at his hotel the day before.)
The world’s two most famous athletes had never met until the 36-year-old soccer player visited the 35-year-old heavyweight champion. And if there is anything that will convince Ali to retire, at least until he makes a come back sooner or later, it might be watching the celebration of Pele’s departure.
The difference is that Pele, organized and wealthy, can afford to retire, while Ali, disorganized and a man who will always need another payday, really can’t afford to retire despite having earned more than $40 million in the ring.
Ali isn’t broke. He won’t end up like Joe Louis did. But the way he lives, he’ll always need big money. And boxing is the easiest, if not the only way, for him to make big money and stay on the big stage his ego demands.
“There comes a time when every fighter walks a tightrope, and sooner or later he falls off. This will happen to Muhammad Ali, as it happens to all great fighters. I wish he calls it a day before he falls off. I told Herbert Muhammad (Ali’s manager) that Madison Square Garden will never make Ali and offer to fight again as long as I’m here.” (Teddy Brenner promoter). “If Madison Square Garden wants him back, they will have to replace me to do it.”
“Arum says Ali’s fighting Leon Spinks,” the Garden Promoter said with a sneer. “If anybody ever suggested years ago that Ali would fight a kid with five pro fights, they’d be locked up. I don’t want to make a match like that.”
Ali lost a split decision to Spinks in 1978 (although he won back the title seven months later). He came out of retirement to lose to Larry Holmes and, a year later in 1981, to Trevor Berbick before finally hanging up the gloves.
ex NYT Anderson 10/1/77
The world’s two most famous athletes had never met until the 36-year-old soccer player visited the 35-year-old heavyweight champion. And if there is anything that will convince Ali to retire, at least until he makes a come back sooner or later, it might be watching the celebration of Pele’s departure.
The difference is that Pele, organized and wealthy, can afford to retire, while Ali, disorganized and a man who will always need another payday, really can’t afford to retire despite having earned more than $40 million in the ring.
Ali isn’t broke. He won’t end up like Joe Louis did. But the way he lives, he’ll always need big money. And boxing is the easiest, if not the only way, for him to make big money and stay on the big stage his ego demands.
“There comes a time when every fighter walks a tightrope, and sooner or later he falls off. This will happen to Muhammad Ali, as it happens to all great fighters. I wish he calls it a day before he falls off. I told Herbert Muhammad (Ali’s manager) that Madison Square Garden will never make Ali and offer to fight again as long as I’m here.” (Teddy Brenner promoter). “If Madison Square Garden wants him back, they will have to replace me to do it.”
“Arum says Ali’s fighting Leon Spinks,” the Garden Promoter said with a sneer. “If anybody ever suggested years ago that Ali would fight a kid with five pro fights, they’d be locked up. I don’t want to make a match like that.”
Ali lost a split decision to Spinks in 1978 (although he won back the title seven months later). He came out of retirement to lose to Larry Holmes and, a year later in 1981, to Trevor Berbick before finally hanging up the gloves.
ex NYT Anderson 10/1/77
Friday, September 30, 1977
Peek-a-Boo by the Champion, Boos by the Crowd
The heavyweight champion was booed so often during his ultimately successful defense of his world title. Ali was only playing at boxing during the first nine rounds, and the crowd did not like it. Boxing fans like their world heavyweight champions to fight, not play patty-cake or stand against the ropes and play peek-a-boo.
What kind of champion was Ali last night? “Tonight he was a bad one,” said Shavers after the bout. “If I were champion, I would never fight like that, holding all the time.” In the eight round, in which the boos were the loudest, the champion yelled back at the crowd. When the boos persisted, he started booing himself.
Shavers stung the champion several times with right hands – “in the second, ninth, tenth and last rounds,” said the champion. “But by the power of Allah, I won.”
The champion did not sound like a very religious man during most of the fight. “He kept calling me ‘nigger,’” said Shavers, “kept saying, ‘Nigger, I’m going to get you.’” After a while, said Shavers, “I called him a nigger too.”
“I’m almost as tired as I was in Manila. And you all know I talk a lot, burn a lot of energy. I’ve been walking the streets of Harlem, campaigning, shaking hands.”
Ali said he had taken some punches “that would knock anyone out.”
“And me, I’m 35 years old.” “It’s magnificent,” said Angelo Dundee. “The way that man can suck it up.”
NYT Katz 9/30/77
What kind of champion was Ali last night? “Tonight he was a bad one,” said Shavers after the bout. “If I were champion, I would never fight like that, holding all the time.” In the eight round, in which the boos were the loudest, the champion yelled back at the crowd. When the boos persisted, he started booing himself.
Shavers stung the champion several times with right hands – “in the second, ninth, tenth and last rounds,” said the champion. “But by the power of Allah, I won.”
The champion did not sound like a very religious man during most of the fight. “He kept calling me ‘nigger,’” said Shavers, “kept saying, ‘Nigger, I’m going to get you.’” After a while, said Shavers, “I called him a nigger too.”
“I’m almost as tired as I was in Manila. And you all know I talk a lot, burn a lot of energy. I’ve been walking the streets of Harlem, campaigning, shaking hands.”
Ali said he had taken some punches “that would knock anyone out.”
“And me, I’m 35 years old.” “It’s magnificent,” said Angelo Dundee. “The way that man can suck it up.”
NYT Katz 9/30/77
Ali Retains Title By Winning Unanimous Decision From Shavers
Shavers, whose stamina had been questioned, and Ali rewarded the 14,600 spectators at the Garden and the TV viewers with a memorable final round. At the bell both fighters were wobbling and staggering from the assaults upon each other.
But by then, Ali had assured himself the victory unless Shavers could have registered a knockout. Shaver’s corner said the decision was another “Norton deal,” alluding to Ali’s controversial decision over Ken Norton last year.
Ali, of course, as never been knocked out in his 55-2 won-loss record.
Ali did not appear in the Felt Forum interview area until about an hour after the fight ended, explaining, “I’m tired, almost as tired as I was in Manila,” an allusion to his 14-round epic knockout of Joe Frazier two years ago.
ex NYT Anderson 9/30/77
But by then, Ali had assured himself the victory unless Shavers could have registered a knockout. Shaver’s corner said the decision was another “Norton deal,” alluding to Ali’s controversial decision over Ken Norton last year.
Ali, of course, as never been knocked out in his 55-2 won-loss record.
Ali did not appear in the Felt Forum interview area until about an hour after the fight ended, explaining, “I’m tired, almost as tired as I was in Manila,” an allusion to his 14-round epic knockout of Joe Frazier two years ago.
ex NYT Anderson 9/30/77
Thursday, September 29, 1977
Fight Crowd Answers Bell Despite Television
“Why?” some of the spenders were asked as they filed into the Garden or lined up at a ticket window outside. Why would someone pay from $20 to $100 or more to see something they could have watched at home for free?
“Because I’m one of these idiots,” answered Ronald Clare, a Manhattan attorney who grew up in Harlem. “I want the smoke, the noise, the inconvenience, the traffic jams. Everything. A $30 bite for the ticket, $10 for dinner, $5 for parking – and probably a fight with my wife when I get home –she doesn’t like boxing.”
If any of the customers thought they had been short-changed, they got their money’s worth with dollars to spare in the last three tumultuous rounds.
“It’s the magnetism of Ali,” said Llewellyn Clark who bought a $20 ticket that would put him in the upper reaches of the Garden near the rafters. “People want to see Ali in person, see what he looks like. It’s not the same as watching on TV.”
Ali’s Bravado Is Back For Fight Tonight Steve Cady 9/29/77
“He’s the house slave, that Uncle Tom they put against the other slave. I’m the bold slave, the rebel slave.”
This will be the first heavyweight title bout at MSG since March 8, 1971, when Ali lost a 15-round decision to Joe Frazier in a championship meeting billed as “The Fight.” Ali was in the role of challenger at the time. He has never been defeated in a title defense during his two championship reigns.
NYT Cady 9/29/77
“Because I’m one of these idiots,” answered Ronald Clare, a Manhattan attorney who grew up in Harlem. “I want the smoke, the noise, the inconvenience, the traffic jams. Everything. A $30 bite for the ticket, $10 for dinner, $5 for parking – and probably a fight with my wife when I get home –she doesn’t like boxing.”
If any of the customers thought they had been short-changed, they got their money’s worth with dollars to spare in the last three tumultuous rounds.
“It’s the magnetism of Ali,” said Llewellyn Clark who bought a $20 ticket that would put him in the upper reaches of the Garden near the rafters. “People want to see Ali in person, see what he looks like. It’s not the same as watching on TV.”
Ali’s Bravado Is Back For Fight Tonight Steve Cady 9/29/77
“He’s the house slave, that Uncle Tom they put against the other slave. I’m the bold slave, the rebel slave.”
This will be the first heavyweight title bout at MSG since March 8, 1971, when Ali lost a 15-round decision to Joe Frazier in a championship meeting billed as “The Fight.” Ali was in the role of challenger at the time. He has never been defeated in a title defense during his two championship reigns.
NYT Cady 9/29/77
Friday, May 13, 1977
A Punch You Felt in the Toenails
That’s how it was with Ken Norton Wednesday. He brushed off the tentative jabs Duane Bobick aimed at his mustache when they met mid-ring. Then he brushed off Duane Bobick as a contender for the heavyweight championship of the world.
Twenty or thirty seconds after the opening bell, Norton pitched an overhand right into the unbeaten redhead’s pleasant visage and Bobick tottered forward, his hands lifted before him as though in supplication. There was no mercy in Madison Square Garden. An uppercut to the throat brought tears to his eyes. Four, six, maybe eight overhand right later, Duane was on the deck thinking beautiful thoughts and Norton was eligible for the $2 million tete a tete with Muhammad Ali, their fourth.
As Bobick fell, Norton flung his hands aloft and pranced about the ring in a war dance of jubilation, as though confident his victim wouldn’t get up. “I knew he was hurt,” Ken said, “and that if he did get up he’d be hurt some more. When you land a good punch you can feel it in your arm, your shoulder, your hip, your toes, your toenails…” He was willing to go on but had run out of anatomy.
Though it is not in Ken Norton to gloat, he had reason to rejoice. The evening’s work was worth $500,00 to him. John Condon of the Garden, accepting a figure that Jerry Quarry computed in his head, told him this worked out to $9800 a second for the 58-second chore. “Praise the Lord,” Ken said, but he is in for a disappointment. Actually he was paid at the sweatshop rate of $8620.69 a second.
Cash customers had the privilege of seeing unbeaten Bernardo Mercado score his 16th victory in a grotesque charade with one Horace Robinson. The tall Colombian’s talent is minimal but his background romantic: he is owned and operated by Joe Conforte, who also owns and operates a stable of cooperative chickadees on Mustang Ranch, the brothel near Reno Nevadaw where Oscar Bonavena was shot dead.
It wasn’t a new Norton, but it was the old Bobick - the one Cuba’s Teo Stevenson pounded into the ground like a stake in the 1972 Olympics. Duane took that whipping like a man, and this one too. Later he sat in his dressing room, arms folded, head down. He seemed close to tears, but he still looked at the sunny side.
“Well,” he said, “I think I can catch the 12 o’clock train to Philly.”
NYT Smith 5/13/77
Twenty or thirty seconds after the opening bell, Norton pitched an overhand right into the unbeaten redhead’s pleasant visage and Bobick tottered forward, his hands lifted before him as though in supplication. There was no mercy in Madison Square Garden. An uppercut to the throat brought tears to his eyes. Four, six, maybe eight overhand right later, Duane was on the deck thinking beautiful thoughts and Norton was eligible for the $2 million tete a tete with Muhammad Ali, their fourth.
As Bobick fell, Norton flung his hands aloft and pranced about the ring in a war dance of jubilation, as though confident his victim wouldn’t get up. “I knew he was hurt,” Ken said, “and that if he did get up he’d be hurt some more. When you land a good punch you can feel it in your arm, your shoulder, your hip, your toes, your toenails…” He was willing to go on but had run out of anatomy.
Though it is not in Ken Norton to gloat, he had reason to rejoice. The evening’s work was worth $500,00 to him. John Condon of the Garden, accepting a figure that Jerry Quarry computed in his head, told him this worked out to $9800 a second for the 58-second chore. “Praise the Lord,” Ken said, but he is in for a disappointment. Actually he was paid at the sweatshop rate of $8620.69 a second.
Cash customers had the privilege of seeing unbeaten Bernardo Mercado score his 16th victory in a grotesque charade with one Horace Robinson. The tall Colombian’s talent is minimal but his background romantic: he is owned and operated by Joe Conforte, who also owns and operates a stable of cooperative chickadees on Mustang Ranch, the brothel near Reno Nevadaw where Oscar Bonavena was shot dead.
It wasn’t a new Norton, but it was the old Bobick - the one Cuba’s Teo Stevenson pounded into the ground like a stake in the 1972 Olympics. Duane took that whipping like a man, and this one too. Later he sat in his dressing room, arms folded, head down. He seemed close to tears, but he still looked at the sunny side.
“Well,” he said, “I think I can catch the 12 o’clock train to Philly.”
NYT Smith 5/13/77
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