Many people believe he should have retired after the Thrilla in Manilla, or even Spinks. While I think that is a fantastic fight, I don't think it was a great fight for Ali. He looked old, out of shape (probably because he took Frazier lightly) and sloppy. Yet despite being exhausted, the way he summoned the energy to pound on Frazier from rounds 12-14 is remarkable.
In my opinion though Manilla was an amazing fight, those punches did more harm to Ali than it helped when you look at his debiliating condition today. I also question how much the fight adds to the Ali legacy. There wasn't much of a point to a third Norton fight, why a third Frazier one?
In my opinion he should have retired after he won back the title from Foreman in 1974. For his health and career's sake. For him to have done this, would have been the perfect farewell to boxing. History will show that both the quality of his performances and his physical condition went downhill after the Rumble, not Manilla
2007-02-01 07:47:05 · 10 answers · asked by Tom S 1 in Sports ➔ Boxing
I am not saying that Ali didn't take punishment after Manilla also. It is obvious that after Manilla is the point when Ali really began to struggle in the ring with Norton, Shavers and Spinks. He was probably beginning to develop Parkinsons by then. However even in 75' with the Wepner and Lyle fights Ali didn't look good. He was on the decline after he fought Foreman. The Larry Holmes fight should have never happened, Ali shouldn't have even been given a boxing licensce for that bout.
2007-02-01 11:28:58 · update #1
He should have quit after he beat Foreman. It meant alot to him to be havyweight champion again and he got it. I don't know why he continued.
2007-02-01 18:14:09 · answer #1 · answered by gman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It Possible ,I Mean I Don't Know If Lets Say He Did Break The Record And Go 50-0 He Would Of Retired Just To Stay Unbeaten .Remember Even He Goes 60-0 If Then Loses 1 Or 2 He's No Longer Undefeated !!
2016-03-29 00:13:44 · answer #2 · answered by Rosa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Career wise after he fought Leon SPinks cause that was his last win and Spinks was a respectable fighter at that time.
Health and career I'd say After the last time he fought Frazier in '75
purely for health I'd agree with after he got the belt back from Foreman in '74
2007-02-01 10:48:07 · answer #3 · answered by kolawoski 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU ARE CLOSE TO THE TRUTH, BUT I THINK THAT HE WAS HURT EVEN MORE AFTER THE MANILA FIGHT. HE FOUGHT NORTON AND SHAVERS AFTER THAT AND TOOK A LOT OF PUNISHMENT.
YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT ALI, NOT BEING READY FOR FRAZIER. ALI KNEW THAT FRAZIER WOULD BE A HARD FIGHT AND BY NO MEANS ALI WAS SLOPPY.
ALI SUFFERED TREMENDOUSLY IN THE HOLMES FIGHT WHERE HIS CORNER GOT THE REF TO STOP THE BOUT.
ALI LIKE OTHERS FAILED TO REALIZE THAT IN BOXING/SPORTS AGE IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER.
P. S. THAT IS WHAT I ADMIRE ABOUT ROCCO, HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO STAY RETIRED. WHEN OLD MAN TIME SAYS IT IS SOMEONE ELSE'S TURN, THEN WISELY STEP ASIDE.
2007-02-01 09:27:02 · answer #4 · answered by smitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
for a man of ali's pride and dignity to have retired after the foreman fight was impossible. he had been denied his prime and wanted to simply hold the title for awhile. his training after foreman might've suffered a little and he did take certain fighters lightly. he's even admitted over the years that he did take frazier a little lightly. joe was supposed to be done after foreman bounced him off the campus and ali thought the time was right for a rubber match and that he could make a lot of money for a quickie. the perfect time for him to retire would've been after spinks2, bec he was so loved and admired after that fight, he could've run for public ofc, and he wasn't in that bad a shape, physically, then, after holmes and berbick was when you saw his condition really worsen and his speech was really getting slurred
2007-02-02 06:33:03 · answer #5 · answered by The Dark Knight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After Foreman that definitely should have been it. Even that may have been too late. Its hard to say when the Parkinson's took hold but I don't care what anyone says it is related to boxing. Same thing happened to Freddie Roach. He should never have taken that beating by Holmes or Berbick that was just crazy. Holmes just pounded him over and over again but Ali was so brave and strong he just took it. It made Cosell quit announcing.
2007-02-01 07:58:01 · answer #6 · answered by Bruce Tzu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He should have hung up the gloves after he KO'd Forman, but definitely after he reclaimed the title from that bum, Spinks.
2007-02-04 06:14:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He should have retired 2 decades ago (20 years).
2007-02-01 07:54:22 · answer #8 · answered by chole_24 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
just before he lost his first fight
2007-02-01 07:59:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
i think he shouldn't have even became a boxer
george forman is gangsta
2007-02-01 07:50:27 · answer #10 · answered by z $ 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋