As I sit and look at the world of boxing, I cannot help but to really appreciate the era I had been so fortunate to witness. I am now in my mid 30’s, and look back, remembering boxing, as being one of the most prestigious entertaining events in the world. My love for the sweet science came around the early to mid-80’s. The Muhammad Ali era was still widely talked about, and the classic VHS tapes, still ran a fresh look into his classic fights.
Muhammad Ali
Boxing changes lives
By Mark Havey: There are people that call for the abolition of boxing. They allude to the many deaths as the reason. Of course you can die from boxing, but you are more likely to die crossing the road. No one calls on cars to be banned. Cars benefit them and boxing doesn’t. However, it benefits many others. Critics will point to people like Muhammad Ali as a reason that boxing should be banned. Muhammad Ali is the very reason it shouldn’t be banned.
Despite suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali is the perfect example of boxing and its benefits. He famously started boxing after someone stole his bike. We have a boy that was destined for poverty and discrimination. A black boy in a white land, what did he have to look forward to? Boxing. Remembered by many as the greatest, Ali is most likely the most famous man on the planet.
Masters of the Sweet Science: Muhummad Ali
By Mohummad Humza Elahi: – Twitter: @MHE_1985 – The People’s Champion. The Louisville Lip. The Greatest. In my last article, I trawled through the archives to find whatever I could on Gene Tunney; reports, old footage, other biographies or articles on his style and influence.
With Ali (56-5, 37 KO’s), there are no such problems. Most of his career is captured on film and makes the boxing highlight reels every time, alongside the superb showmanship and entertainment he brought to the ring. However, in pure boxing terms, Ali’s genius, his true mastery, was in being able to do what normal convention (or the then accepted convention at the time) advised not to do. Dance. Shuffle. Taunt. Rope-a-dope.
Muhammad Ali: Did his Vietnam Comments Doom Boxing to Obscurity?
By Tewodore: In today’s world of patriotism ad nauseum. Where is seems no athlete is willing to stand out or against the incredible power of the self proclaimed greatest nation on the planet. There once was a man, a legend- he too claimed to be the greatest albeit the greatest boxer of all time. Somehow in the midst of his career this self proclaimed greatest boxer ran afoul of the self proclaimed greatest nation. The fireworks that ensued would captivate a nation, and bare its deep divisions for the world to see. Unbelievably it would be the boxer who would claim victory in the encounter but the nation would not be denied its vengeance. It’s embarrassment was self evident its retribution would gut a once great sport, and kill many federal funded programs for boxers around the nation. This is the story of Muhammad Ali vs The United States Government and the repercussions that would reverberate through boxing for generations to come.
Ali, Robinson, Leonard, Mayweather; the art of movement
(Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime) By Robert Elmore: When there is a certain person that stays on top of his game in any sport, and no major flaws can be pointed out, that’s when people reaching for straws. They search high and low for anything they can use to disrespect the person on top. The anti Floyd Mayweather Jr. movement have resulted to such things.
This article is not for those who educated about the sport. It’s for those who uneducated. One of the straws being reached for is this thing called movement; getting out of the way punches; the float like a butter fly sting like a bee; the Cus D’ mato hit and not get hit style.
The Fighter’s Best Weapon
By Bassenco: Muhammad Ali was famous for his “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” slogan. But in early 1973, Joe Frazier took away the heavyweight title from Ali. Frazier could move in, rattle a fighter’s head with swift combination punches, and move out again. After their first historic fight, Frazier became the new darling of boxing. Frazier won his fights by artfully landing more punches per round than the other guy. He was, truly, a classical boxer, and not a brawler. He was often called “Gentleman Joe Frazier.”
So when George Foreman came on the scene, a gold medalist in the Olympics, but large, rude, and angry, he came across as unsophisticated and somewhat brutal. He was known as “the angry young man.” He took on Frazier later in 1973 and knocked him to the canvas six times before knocking him out in the second round. In an instant, Foreman’s reputation was made as a hard handed, merciless fighter.
Muhammad Ali is not on deaths door
By Mark Havey: Recently the sun newspaper ran an article on Muhammad Ali, claiming he was at deaths door. The news was overwhelmingly distressing for his millions of fans around the world. The great man’s Brother was the one who made the claims. He blamed Mrs Ali for being the cause of a huge split in the family. He claimed that the greatest boxer to ever live could be dead in days, and certainly wouldn’t last to summer.
Whatever happened to the heavyweight division?
By Tony Crooks: As a young boy, I grew up watching the great fights that went on to be legend. I am not going to mention those fights to you, as you as boxing fans will know exactly what I am talking about. The younger boxing fans out there can use the internet to discover and educate themselves on the history of boxing and personally watch the true stories unfold.
We all know of Muhammad Ali & Joe Frazier, the formidable George Foreman who used to be a devastating fighter before he made low fat cooking grills. I mentioned George Foreman to my son and told him that he had one of the hardest punches ever, he looked at me and laughed and said:” Do you mean the big bald guy that sells health grills.” In all honesty and in sadness and in respect of this great fighter, I politely told my son that he was mistaken.
Mike Tyson knows best….
By Rusty Nate: This is not an article to provoke the hard core bloggers or start arguments. Its more of a little write up about the interview i watched and what stood out for me.
I don’t know who watched the Sky Special on Ringside last week (I had to record it and watch it back as I was at an event).
I managed to get round to watching it last night and found my self overly excited at the upcoming Mike Tyson interview at the end of the program.
Who is the greatest of all time?
By Mark Havey: Boxing writers, fans, boxers and trainer have always debated as to who is the greatest. There has been so many formidable, courageous and talented boxers. They have given inspiration and entertainment. I have spent so many good times debating with friends on the subject and I think it is a brilliant way to test who knows boxing, and who claims to know.