Quote Originally Posted by Beanflicker View Post
After the Thrilla in Manilla, he should have set up the 3rd fight with Norton, fought him in early to mid '76 and retired. There was nothing left to prove after complete the trilogy with Frazier and Norton. Jimmy Young, Earnie Shavers, Evangelista... he had nothing to prove against these guys.

Ali retires after completing the trilogy with Norton in early to mid '76 and retires at 34.
Ali willfully took tooo mannny shotttts to the head-bone. Not wise. "I'm GOD!" he thought. "Everyone must bow to ME!" he said over and over again.

Dr. Ferdie Pacheco on why he quit being Ali's doctor: "In 1977, I was concerned about potential liver and kidney damage and noticed that Ali's reflexes were slowing down. I recommended that Ali retire, but Ali continued to fight. Due to this difference of opinion, I left Ali's camp."