Fair or Foul? Muhammad Ali's Behavior towards Ernie Terrell during their fight

When Ali pummeled Ernie Terrell into submission in 1967, the press was attacking Ali for what he did. And in addition to the whole Vietnam thing, Ali was made out to be some kind of heartless monster.

But the fact is that before the fight Terrell refused to call Ali by his name. He insisted on calling him Cassius Clay, when in fact most people called him by his newly acquired muslim name. Even the fightcards called him Ali! What Terrell did was wrong, and he disrespected and humiliated not only Ali, but all muslims. Ali afterwards told him and the press that he was going to punish him mercilessly and make him say his real name. In that case, criticizing him after the fight doesn't make sense, since he said he was going to do it anyway. What the press should have been talking about was the multiple fouls Terrell committed during the fight. He was hitting him behind the head (rabbit punching), holding him and hitting him at the same time, and hitting him on the break all illegal and subject to the deduction of points. In and interview with Howard Cosell on ABC not long after the fight, Muhammad Ali apologized for talking to Terrell throughout the fight, and saying "what's my name" then hitting him. However he said he did it so Terrell and other people would respect his religious beliefs. Terrell ended up saying "Muhammad Ali", and rightfully so.

The bottom line is that Ernie Terrell got what was coming to him in my opinion. What do you think?

And in other breaking news jesse owens has just won the 100 metres...

In the ring you win how you will, I see no rule against taunting. It is mean, but we can be mean. The punches are more savage than the words.

It's similar to all is fair in love and war, no "foul" by either fighter, that's boxing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QqVJTSbLNA

On a side note:

I read recently that terrell was an example of how ali would handle the klitschkos Ernie Terrell was 6'6" and a good boxer, but thats were the comparisons end...

Ernie Terrell IS ONE OF THE MOST FEATHERFISTED GUYS ever witnessed in the whole history of real heavyweight boxing.

He scored only 2 KOs (in his entire career) in real heavyweight fights.

1 KO against Garcia (who started at 150+ lbs).
and 1 KO against a 33-16 bum (Bill Drover).

Ernie Terrell is NOTHING compared to the Klitschkos.

Terrell's real heavyweight record (200x2) is 9-5.

Additionally Terrell claims that Ali thumbed him ("Clay as Clay can") so that his eye got jammed and was fixed in one direction since the early rounds.

The fight Ali-vs-Terrell does not show how well Ali handled a tall guy but HOW BAD ALI performed against a tall guy.

Terrell's medium weight is 197 lbs. He was a CRUISER. Compare Terrell with modern cruisers not with real heavyweights 50 pounds heavier.

Just thought id throw it out there...

Didn’t Ali slap Terrell before the fight. Calling Ali by his original name did annoy Ali which is why Frazier use to call him Clay. It was one thing that Frazier could annoy Ali with. It was certainly one of Ali’s finest performance but all was legal and above board.

Next debate should be did Ali illegally win the second fight with Frazier by his constant holding and pulling Joe’s head down which the referee should have penalised?

Meh, if you're gonna talk smack like Terrell did, you take what comes your way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by THE PHILOSOPHER

I read recently that terrell was an example of how ali would handle the klitschkos Ernie Terrell was 6'6" and a good boxer, but thats were the comparisons end...

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Wow, can't believe people would compare Terrell to a Klitschko... might as well say Joe Louis would kill both of them because look how he handled Primo Carnera ;D

There's no one to compare them to because there has never been a guy with the combination of size, skill and athleticism that they had before (I'd venture to guess) the 1980's. At least I can't think of one.

I have read it a few times on certain sites, its crazy isn't it!!

who cares ıf terrell wouldnt say hıs name?

Yeah I don't see how it can offend an whole religion because one guy won't call someone his new name. It offended Ali personally and he dealt with it in the ring, there's no reason to make Earnie a hated man.

That's the problem with people these days, being offended is made way to bigger deal of. In the end people need to be thicker skinned, just because you're offended does not mean you have to react with violence or foul play back. Use your brain and create a verbal retort rather than burning something down or trying to kill someone.