This is the next in my blog series ‘Mythical Matchups’. The bout is between Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield. My imaginary bouts all take place at Caesar’s Palace Outdoor Arena, with the great Mills Lane as the referee.
Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He began boxing at age 12, and had a very successful amateur career that culminated with him winning the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Tokyo as a light-heavyweight. Then Cassius Clay, he began fighting professional on October 29, 1960 with a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker. He built up a record of 19-0, with 15 knockouts, which let to a bout with Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title. The February 25, 1964 saw Clay open as an 8-1 underdog, but the upstart shocked the world by stopping Liston in six.
Now Muhammad Ali, he would defend his crown successfully for three years, until he was stripped of his belt for refusing induction into the U.S. Army in April of 1967. After a 3 and 1/2 year hiatus from the ring, he returned in October of 1970 with a stoppage of Jerry Quarry. After losing to Joe Frazier for the title in March of 1971, Ali would have to wait until October of 1974 before he recaptured the championship with an 8th round knockout of George Foreman. Ali would lose the belt to Leon Spinks in February of 1978, but win it back for a third time that same September in their rematch. Muhammad finally retired in December of 1981 after losing to Trevor Berbick in the Bahamas.
At his peak in the 1960’s, Muhammad Ali was a special and gifted fighter. He had tremendous legs, a great chin, and could box as well as any heavyweight in history. While not a huge puncher, he could finish someone when he had them hurt, and was also as ring-wise as anyone that ever lived.
Evander Holyfield was born on October 19, 1962 in Atmore, Alabama, but his family moved to Atlanta when he was young. He began boxing at the local boys club, developed quickly, and wound up a member of the 1984 U.S. Boxing team in Los Angeles. Despite losing unjustly due to a foul, Evander turned professional in November of 1984 at Madison Square Garden. In July of 1986 he defeated Dwight Muhammad Qawi to capture the WBA Cruiserweight title. After unifying the belts, he moved up the heavyweight in July of 1988 with a quick knockout of James Tillis. On October 25, 1990 he stopped Buster Douglas in two to win his first heavyweight crown. After losing to Riddick Bowe in November of 1992, he won the title back from Bowe a year later. He lost to Michael Moorer in April of 1994, but shocked the world on November 9, 1996 with his knockout of Mike Tyson in Las Vegas. He became the only four-time heavyweight champion with his win over John Ruiz in August of 2000, but unfortunately kept fighting until 2011 in pursuit of a championship he would never win.
If both Ali and Holyfield met in their prime, it certainly would have been a great fight. Ali was a tremendous boxer, and I see him boxing laterally, and frustrating an aggressive Holyfield .Evander certainly would have landed enough shots to make Muhammad know he was in a fight, and would have been no pushover. Ali had one of the greatest chins in history, and I see him out-jabbing Evander, and winning a close, but difficult 12 round fight. Ali by unanimous decision.
Its’s all conjecture and fun, but it’s my blog and my opinion. If you disagree with me, it’s fine by me, since I’m just grateful you’re reading it.
Muhammad Ali retired with a record of 56-5, with 37 knockouts, and is the most influential boxer in history. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He passed away on June 3, 2016, and is still a beloved figure to boxing fans the world over.
Evander stuck around way too long, and retired with a record of 44-10-2, with 29 knockouts. He was inducted into the IBHOF in 2017, and can still be see at major fights, and is in remarkably good health despite all of his ring wars.
For one night, it would have been something to see both all-times greats meet in ring center. It’s what makes what I do fun, and I’ll keep writing as long as I’m able.
FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
LISTEN TO ME ON SPOTIFY AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
