Ali-Holmes, How Did They Allow This Fight to Happen...

[ICB]

just watched ESPN's Muhammad & Larry documentary and well we all already know how the fight went down, but seriously how did they let this fight even get made? Ali was 38 yrs old coming off a 2 year retirement and if you watch the documentary you can see that the signs of Parkinson's disease, he tries to play it off by moving his hands around while giving interviews or tries to control it in one way or another, he looks a bit out of it the whole lead up to the fight and his speech is already a bit slurred, simply put fighters need to be protected from themselves and to this day they do nothing to stop legends from being destroyed

Well to be honest Muhammad Ali didn't do himself any favours, he constantly mocked Holmes and basically forced the fight to happen on his own accord. He's lucky Holmes went easy on him otherwise it could of been a real tragedy, but the real tragedy is Ali losing to Trevor Berbick.

Losing to Holmes even though he was years past his prime is nothing to be ashamed of, but losing to Berbick who still hand his hands full with that version of Ali just frigging annoys me.

[ElTerribleMorales]

just watched ESPN's Muhammad & Larry documentary and well we all already know how the fight went down, but seriously how did they let this fight even get made? Ali was 38 yrs old coming off a 2 year retirement and if you watch the documentary you can see that the signs of Parkinson's disease, he tries to play it off by moving his hands around while giving interviews or tries to control it in one way or another, he looks a bit out of it the whole lead up to the fight and his speech is already a bit slurred, simply put fighters need to be protected from themselves and to this day they do nothing to stop legends from being destroyed

Well to be honest Muhammad Ali didn't do himself any favours, he constantly mocked Holmes and basically forced the fight to happen on his own accord. He's lucky Holmes went easy on him otherwise it could of been a real tragedy, but the real tragedy is Ali losing to Trevor Berbick.

Losing to Holmes even though he was years past his prime is nothing to be ashamed of, but losing to Berbick who still hand his hands full with that version of Ali just frigging annoys me.

oh I get that, Ali's handlers even said that Ali took the fight just for the money, but he had to go through tests in the middle of his training camp where they concluded that his speech and motor skills were declining, that he couldn't touch his nose with his finger without struggling and that his short term memory was deteriorating as well, yet with all that being said, they still gave him the license to fight, it's absurd

[Beanz]

Money. Everyone wanted a piece of Ali's money making potential. Networks,promoters,opponents even those who should have had his best interests at heart used him to publicise their own agenda and garner money and attention for themselves.

[roberto duran legend]

Money. Everyone wanted a piece of Ali's money making potential. Networks,promoters,opponents even those who should have had his best interests at heart used him to publicise their own agenda and garner money and attention for themselves.

Very true and very sad.He was just a good payday to lots of hangers on
who would butter his ego up.There is no way Ali should have been in a ring
with a fighter like Holmes,he was just a ghost of a fighter in there.

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

Holmes v tyson, how did they allow this fight to happen?

Ali fought numerous fighters that were approaching 40 or in there 40's!

WHY SHOULD FIGHTERS NOT GET AN OPPORTUNITY VS A LATE 30'S ALI?

[Mctaggert]

Because Holmes still had all his faculties... seriously dude watch the documentary, they put Ali on the wrong medication mistaking his Parkinson's for something else, it made him barely able to move around the ring. Ali should never have been aloud to fight they should have pulled him out on medical grounds.

[Master]

Saddo mentioned it in another post, I started one ages ago about it. I think Ali wore the mustache because subconsciously he wanted to disassociate himself from the fight and say this is not the real Ali. It was sick and sad.

[Hulk]

Holmes v tyson, how did they allow this fight to happen?

Ali fought numerous fighters that were approaching 40 or in there 40's!

WHY SHOULD FIGHTERS NOT GET AN OPPORTUNITY VS A LATE 30'S ALI?

The Holmes who fought Tyson and the Ali who fought Holmes were nothing alike as far as deterioating health is concerned.

Holmes went on to school Ray Mercer and have a very close fight with Holyfield for the world title, YEARS after he fought Tyson.

Ali went on to lose to Berbick, retire and suffer from parkinsons.

[boyla]

Money. Everyone wanted a piece of Ali's money making potential. Networks,promoters,opponents even those who should have had his best interests at heart used him to publicise their own agenda and garner money and attention for themselves.

He had a huge entourage as well.

Ali had a great charisma as well, try telling him no he would convince you otherwise.

[ruthless rocco]

how did this fight ever happen!!!

[Master]

how did this fight ever happen!!!

Heard about this fight, Ali's legs were very sore after it. Complete farce to allow this to happen as well.

[Beanz]

how did this fight ever happen!!!

Heard about this fight, Ali's legs were very sore after it. Complete farce to allow this to happen as well.

If I remember rightly he had to fly shortly after and his doctor who had already prescribed dodgy advice and medicines to him was very worried about DVT and blood clots

[IamInuit]

Money. Everyone wanted a piece of Ali's money making potential. Networks,promoters,opponents even those who should have had his best interests at heart used him to publicise their own agenda and garner money and attention for themselves.

So true. Still Holmes should have told King to F-off. He was Ali's chief sparring partner for several years and watched him deteriorating.

Then again King at the time was boxing and Holmes was essentially given the choice of walking the plank or fighting Ali.

[donnydarkoIRL]

So true. Still Holmes should have told King to F-off. He was Ali's chief sparring partner for several years and watched him deteriorating.

Then again King at the time was boxing and Holmes was essentially given the choice of walking the plank or fighting Ali.

I think Holmes viewed this fight as his path toward the adulation he deserved and wanted so badly.
In boxing there is a term "the sparring partner mentality." Holmes never had this, I belive Larry would have viewed even a prime Ali as his sparring partner and a step up toward his own pedestal.