Facing ali

[TitoFan]

"Facing Ali"

I just finished watching this program on TV, and figured it had to have been mentioned on the forum before... so I did a search. It's from 2009, and I'm glad I watched it now, although I didn't get it from the beginning. It was a great program.

Couldn't help but think about the few Ali haters in here, most notably Bill Paxtom. Like an earlier post in the thread said, nothing like hearing from the very fighters who faced Ali. It gave me a perspective I didn't have before. You saw Henry Cooper speak... George Chuvalo, Ernie Terrell, Ron Lyle, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, George Foreman, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes. What stood out was how each man had nothing but wonderful things to say about Ali, both the fighter and the man. Something that surprised the hell out of me was seeing Frazier shed a few tears when talking about Ali and his condition. I had seen other programs where Frazier seemed lost in resentment toward Ali and that he would never forgive him. But seeing this was eye-opening. I loved seeing the video clips of the fights with all those guys, and how Ali changed over time. Seems to me the Thrilla in Manila should've been Ali's last fight, but even after that he fought Ken Norton for a 3rd time, and even got in the ring with Earnie Shavers. Man... he took some bombs in that fight as well. Even Holmes, who I can't stand... showed a kind side when referring to Ali, although IMO he should've never taken that fight in the first place.

I've always defended Ali, not because I think he was the greatest HW to ever live... but because he pretty much transcended boxing and did a lot of things for the sport. But to hear the adulation from all his opponents throughout the years was the cherry on the top.

Which is why I take new issue with Bill making up these cockamamie quotes about Ali. I figure, if the guys who fought Ali don't hate him.... then why should we? Even Frazier, who Ali insulted so much.... doesn't hate Ali.

In any case, I hope they show the program again, so I can catch it from the beginning.

I haven't seen this program. I usually don't pay a lot of attention to this kind of thing, as these fighters are trying to justify their loses by building up the fighter that beat them, in my opinion. As for Frazier tearing up, us oldsters are prone to that as we can see the Grim Reaper when we look a few years ahead. Do I think I'm a prick? No. Do I know I sound like a prick? Yes. Do I care? No. I know what I saw him do, and I know what I read about him! I have no forgiveness for the prick that Ali was. He did some good things and he did some bad things, the bad outweigh the good, in my opinion.
I am not saying Ali was not a great fighter!

I would watch it, @beenKOed .

Not saying it would change your mind or anything... it's just a pretty cool documentary. There's a few fighters I had never heard speak before. Just that part of it was pretty interesting. I think the only fighter who was trying to build himself up through Ali was Spinks. Other than that, the rest were just pretty good human interest stories. It was great hearing a bit about Chuvalo's life... and Lyle's... and Norton's.

You probably lived through and remember Ali's antics, and thus your dislike is pretty engrained. That's fine. My only issue is with Bill, making up supposed quotes when in reality, hearing different things from the men themselves speaks volumes. Sort of makes Bill out to be a psychopathic liar.

Still, liking and disliking Ali is a personal thing... and it's hard to change the mind of someone who has had that mindset for decades.