The Dead Thread

[Rita_Poon]

Yes better with Don King out of the way he robbed boxers blind, By the way did Ali use the ‘uncle tom’ phrase to George Foreman, he did to Ernie Terrell early in his career after Terrell mocked him for changing his name from Cassius Clay to Mohammed Ali.

I've had a glance before I posted what I did. None of it is very pretty. Probably left best alone. I suppose that stuff was the 'kill him and eat his children' type sound bite of the day. All very grim. It's not like public interest and the tv deals weren't there already. Hype for hypes sake.

 

[Bluerover]

We were given a present of one years ago - still in the box at the back of a cupboard somewhere . Maybe I'll take it out today in his memory. Seemed a nice bloke. RIP.

Just cooked two smoked coley fillets on. Very nice and very clean. Must start using it. RIP George I admire what you achieved in your life from very a tough beginning.

 

[Blue peter]

Yet Frazier beat Ali who in turn famously beat Foreman. It was swings and roundabouts in those days.

As the saying goes ‘styles make fights’

 

[Blue peter]

No lack of respect here for Frazier. (He almost played Clubber Lang in rocky 3)
So far as the sport of boxing goes, it's zenith was that late 60's and then 70's period, middleweights in the 80's got close, but the true pinnacle was that heavy weight era. They were so good and there was less money and outside influence in it. Foreman made more money out of a grill than he did his entire sporting career. Now personalities are managed, it's endorsements, and specialist clothing ranges (Air Jordan), they can't say or show any part of their true self, just look at the mess Tyson made for himself.
Ali was clever, playing both sides against the middle, one minute the put upon stripped former champion, the next using the 'uncle tom' phrase to antagonise Foreman. I suppose the sport of beating another person has always been in the gutter. Glad king isn't involved much anymore, there's a scumbag I'll happily not miss.

The sanctioning bodies were a lot less proliferated back then as well, there wasn’t an ‘ABC interim, part time champion of the world’ style titles.

 

[Kurt.]

Foreman never recovered after his brother stood trial and done time with the krays

 

[Cake]

 

[Cake]

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

I suppose we did ask for a big hitter for this thread......

 

[summerisle]

 

[larbert toffee]

Foreman was in charge of a few guys at my Dad's work.

 

[Shevin Keedy]

Highly recommend the documentary When We Were Kings: the story of the Rumble in the Jungle, and everything it took to make it happen (Don King mainly).

It's a fascinating insight into a huge but chaotic undertaking: the music extravaganza that was part of the fight deal, President Mbutu's brutal methods for reducing crime levels leading up to the event, countless commentaries from some of the world's leading sports journalists, from Ali sparring Larry Holmes to the trainer Dick Sadler desperately trying to control Foreman's pummelling of the heavy bag, every scene is a treat.

it's easily one of the greatest documentaries ever made but that's because of the story itself and the characters involved, Big George is painted as the villain of the piece but every tale needs one and he just laps it up; big, broody, dark and menacing, they really don't make them like that anymore.

RIP Big George x

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Highly recommend the documentary When We Were Kings: the story of the Rumble in the Jungle, and everything it took to make it happen (Don King mainly).

It's a fascinating insight into a huge but chaotic undertaking: the music extravaganza that was part of the fight deal, President Mbutu's brutal methods for reducing crime levels leading up to the event, countless commentaries from some of the world's leading sports journalists, from Ali sparring Larry Holmes to the trainer Dick Sadler desperately trying to control Foreman's pummelling of the heavy bag, every scene is a treat.

it's easily one of the greatest documentaries ever made but that's because of the story itself and the characters involved, Big George is painted as the villain of the piece but every tale needs one and he just laps it up; big, broody, dark and menacing, they really don't make them like that anymore.

RIP Big George x

Absolutely one of my favourite movies. I think the humbling that Foreman took that night was the best thing that happened to him, I'm sure he actually a decent guy before but he became of the world's best human beings in the aftermath. And what a record he had.

 

[Rita_Poon]

Absolutely one of my favourite movies. I think the humbling that Foreman took that night was the best thing that happened to him, I'm sure he actually a decent guy before but he became of the world's best human beings in the aftermath. And what a record he had.

Considering he retired at 28, made a come back as 38 and won it all again, his record is staggering in it's frightfulness. 68 of 76 wins via ko is ~89.5% via stoppage. 5 losses total, (as a pro) and even his last bought, being a defeat was a Majority Decision. Only Ali was good enough to knock him down for the ten count. 81 pro bouts. (with a 10 year holiday)

Ali, 56 wins, 5 losses, 37 wins via ko. (enforced exile aged 25-28 due to u.s. scum government).

 

[Bryan+]

Highly recommend the documentary When We Were Kings: the story of the Rumble in the Jungle, and everything it took to make it happen (Don King mainly).

It's a fascinating insight into a huge but chaotic undertaking: the music extravaganza that was part of the fight deal, President Mbutu's brutal methods for reducing crime levels leading up to the event, countless commentaries from some of the world's leading sports journalists, from Ali sparring Larry Holmes to the trainer Dick Sadler desperately trying to control Foreman's pummelling of the heavy bag, every scene is a treat.

it's easily one of the greatest documentaries ever made but that's because of the story itself and the characters involved, Big George is painted as the villain of the piece but every tale needs one and he just laps it up; big, broody, dark and menacing, they really don't make them like that anymore.

RIP Big George x

Not an exaggeration- it’s a masterpiece of a story told in a way that reflects the magnitude of the event. I never get tired of watching it, the ego of Ali is absolutely dwarfed by the event.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Considering he retired at 28, made a come back as 38 and won it all again, his record is staggering in it's frightfulness. 68 of 76 wins via ko is ~89.5% via stoppage. 5 losses total, (as a pro) and even his last bought, being a defeat was a Majority Decision. Only Ali was good enough to knock him down for the ten count. 81 pro bouts. (with a 10 year holiday)

Ali, 56 wins, 5 losses, 37 wins via ko. (enforced exile aged 25-28 due to u.s. scum government).

You know in a lot of sports, the progress of the athletes is remarkable, look at the Baines vs Pat thread, honestly there should be no debate due to the advances of coaching, diet etc etc. Batsmen in cricket are far superior today. But Boxing, no, it peaked around their era, and will most likely never be bettered. A prime Foreman or Ali or Frazier would knock every single boxer in today's game out of the ring in minutes. Tyson might come close, Ali said he wouldn't want to fight him.