Suffering a debilitating disease, arguably the greatest sportsman, personality maybe even man ever to grace this life! 70 today
What a man! What a fighter (and showman at the same time)! And the fact that he refused to fight in Vietnam - so brave! [video=youtube;RmaHGY7BEog]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmaHGY7BEog[/video]
I remember getting up very early with the old man to watch him beat Liston, and i boast that i was the only person in my class who said he would win. Respect to him, admit i got emotional when he lit the flame at the Atlanta Olympics.
Bang on. He was the perfect choice and it was possibly the only good thing about the worst games ever.
The way he moves it is sometimes easy to forget that he was a 17stone heavyweight - he fights like a lightweight! Compare some of these clips to the way every single other plodding heavyweight moves and it really is astonishing. The barrage of blows at 1.03 is the most incredible piece of heavyweight boxing I have ever seen - the opponent literally did not have a clue where the punch was coming from.
Missed the film of him in London last night but i saw the Rumble in The Jungle and the Thrilla in Manilla film (although it was from the Joe Frazier's point of view). Both were class. He got a battering in all his fights. Maybe he was slightly fortunate that he came through on the winning side on those few occassions, especially the thrilla in manilla, where Frazier's corner didn't allow him come out for the final round. I know he took a pounding in the Wembley fight v Henry Cooper and was sparked out only for a great comeback. And Forman deffo battered him in Zaire but again he had the strength to withstand it. The heavyweight division is ****e now- the Klitschkos are miles ahead of anybody in that division and Haye is ending his career. Pitty that they can't get the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight sorted.
Happy birthday Mr Clay .. Even I liked boxing when you was on the go . I use to sneak my radio into bed and tune into your fights on American forces network when I was a nipper .. You will allways be the greatest !
Sorry but I'm compelled to pick you up on use of 'Casius Clay' Ali gave up his slave name out of principle he took offence to any use of this name and anyone with any respect or knowledge of the man would never use or refer to it.
You go on about slave names but did you know he had the white supremists support for the fight against Frazier in Manila. In that programme i watched a while ago it said he went to one of the KKK rallies- burning crosses & hoods and all. Very interesting all the bizarre racial stuff surrounding a fight between two black fighters. This is a classic [video=youtube;o_EHlzd63R8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_EHlzd63R8[/video]
