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Challenger Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) punches heavyweight champion Sonny Liston during their 1964 bout. Clay won the title with a TKO of Liston in the 7th round.
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Challenger Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) punches heavyweight champion Sonny Liston during their 1964 bout. Clay won the title with a TKO of Liston in the 7th round.
Muhammad Ali, for all the reasons in the world, was the first prime boxing star. Back in the old era, when television and boxing bouts weren’t mainstream, Ali amassed extensive attention around himself with his blistering boxing prowess. Back then, he pulled off many outstanding performances, pinning himself as the one true GOAT of the sport.
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But there was one more fight taken by Ali, which not many know about. In 1976, ‘The Greatest’ locked horns with Japanese wrestler, Antonio Inoki.
Ali stepped inside the ring like a usual boxer, but Inoki came bare-knuckle.
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As expected, the elite wrestler did not look to stand and trade punches with Ali. Instead, he relied heavily on his kicks to floor the boxing legend. For a major time in the fight, Inoki was on the canvas, kicking Ali, trying to grapple him. However, ‘The Greatest’ used the ropes many times to dodge Inoki’s power-packed kicks.
On top of this, Ali even taunted his adversary by saying, “Coward Inoki! Inoki no fight!”
Until the first seven rounds, Ali did not throw a punch. Also, he threw a mere six punches throughout the fight. In round 6, Inoki somehow got Ali on the canvas, and he even elbowed the boxing great, which later cost him three points.
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After a scuffle of 15-rounds, this bout was termed a draw.
Why did Muhammad Ali take up this fight?
In 1975, Muhammad Ali asserted, “Isn’t there any Oriental fighter who will challenge me? I’ll give him one million dollars if he wins.”
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American heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali walks through the streets with members of the Black Panther Party, New York, New York, September 1970. Ali was sentenced to five years in prison and his championship title revoked after he was convicted of draft evasion upon his refusal to serve with the American army in Vietnam upon grounds of conscientious objection. The decision was overtuned in 1971 but Ali became a figurehead of resistance and a hero of the people.
Inoki later turned up to take on this challenge, thus keeping ‘The Greatest’ on his toes.
Not many expected a high-voltage action from this fight. And it turned out the way expected, as it was a crossover fight between a world champion boxer and a sturdy wrestler.
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