Fifty years ago today, Mohammed Ali — the greatest fighter of all time — had his first fight after being banned from boxing for three and a half years (refused to register for the draft). Some folks were sure that he would never be the same old Ali. He was thicker, heavier, and surely his lightning speed would be rusty, if not permanently diminished. But, Angelo Dundee said after just seeing Ali’s first jab that he knew Ali hadn’t lost a step. The sap — errr, opponent — was Jerry Quarry. Back then, it seemed to me that every Caucasian challenger was dubbed ‘The Great White Hope‘. This is back in the days when racism was fun. Ali bloodied Quarry senseless so, the ref ended the fight after the third round. Without further adieu, for your nostalgic viewing pleasure ….
When I was young, I hated Ali. Because of this.
When I became an old man, I admired him for it.
THE END.
Stuck
The quote didn’t show up. Put a link in the comments and I’ll fix the post.
You must have fixed it already. Both the video and the quote are displayed on my ‘puter. Thanks.
Eh,video up for me but not the quote.
The Ali vs Frazier fights were other worldly. How one or both of them didn’t literally die in the ring, I dunno. They are available on YT and are well worth your time.
Auntie wonders what either one of the Klitschko fellas would have done to Ali?
And that badass British bloke – Tyson Fury – would have made a puddle of red treacle out of him.
Vitali, the older one would have likely done a number on him, but younger brother Vlad (the Chris Cuomo of the family) would have been glass jawed by Cassius. Fury, like Vitali, would have had too much of a functional size advantage in this make believe match up. I must say I’m thankful for those (mostly Eastern) European lads that prove that not all white males are pussified cucks…
Don’t forget George Foreman had the size and all the power of the K boys and Ali whooped him
Boxing is a rigged game.
Most corrupt “sport” ever.
Politics, Cliff. The “sport” of Politics takes the Corruption grand prize.
What’s the quote?
“I Ain’t Got No Quarrel With The VietCong…No VietCong Ever Called Me Nigger.”
Whether or not he stated it exactly in those words is disputable. Here is the text they likely “improved” upon;
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“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.”
Elvis showed love and respect for his country-and for what the country gave him-in more meaningful ways than the kid from Louisville ever did. Bite the hand that feeds you never was very good advice.
Virtual Comeback in :20.
i couldn’t stand to hear him speak or watch his fights with his rope-a-dope when i was a kid, but when i grew up a bit and rewatched several fights, i was amazed at the speed and accuracy of his jabs. they were brutal.
watching his strategy against foreman, literally letting george wear himself out punching without effect, then coming to life and beating the crap out of him was great. awesome fight.
The effect was devastating to Ali …. later in life.
Jerry Quarry died at the age of 53 due to dementia pugilistica — a form of dementia that originates with repeated concussions or other traumatic blows to the head. So did Jerry’s brother, also a boxer. And another brother died of Parkinson’s. Jerry had a hard life.
Boxing was my favorite sport for decades until it became so corrupt it wasn’t worth watching. The ” Louisville Lip” was a colorful character and there has not been another quite like him since.
true. good addition.