The Greatest Punch Was the One He Never Threw

POINT TO PONDER 

“We're all fighting for the same cause and idea but we have different reasons and different approaches."                                                

                                                                                                        -Muhammad Ali

STORYLINE by Rajiv Shah

It is approaching Muhammad Ali's 70^th birthday this week and as an avid boxing fan I would like to pay tribute to the man who simply became known as “The Greatest.” His boxing accolades, championships, and triumphs are well known: three time world championships, an Olympic gold medal winner, and in 1999, Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and "Sports Personality of the Century" by the BBC.

Add to this a man that could rhyme poetry, who spoke openly about his religious beliefs, and who protested the Vietnam War by refusing to fight a war he didn't believe in. A refusal that caused the United States of America to strip Ali of his title, his boxing license, and four of the most precious years a young boxer has in fighting career.

I watched a talk show with the young Ali where he was asked if he regretted his decision to evade the draft. The punishment was severe and was it really all worth it? His response was, “...if I regretted it, it wasn't sincere.”

The talk show host pointed out that when Ali's conviction was overturned that he didn't seem the least bit resentful of the Supreme Court or the men that had taken boxing away from him.

Ali responded, “I would be a hypocrite if I did because I expected them to recognize me for what I believed. And they did what they thought was right at the time they took my title, at the time they wouldn't let me box nowhere in the country. They just did what they thought was right. And for me now to sue them or to condemn them, or to speak out against them for doing what they thought was right – then this would be hypocritical - at the same time I expect them, though they didn't, to recognize me for what I believe. So how can I get on them for doing what they thought was right?”

REFLECTION

There was a humor and a humanity to Muhammad Ali that seemed to belie the savage nature of the sport he dominated. Ali is a study in that contrast that has grasped our fascination with him as an athlete and man for so many decades. George Foreman spoke of Ali's greatness in the documentary, “Facing Ali.” In the film Foreman recounts the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” fight that took place in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974. He says the best punch of that fight was never landed. Foreman said that as he was stumbling and headed for the canvas in the eight round, Ali could have easily punched him on the way down. Ordinarily, boxers will finish off the collapsing fighter but Ali didn't. He kept his fist cocked but didn't deliver the blow. There was something humane about not throwing the punch - something aesthetically beautiful in a moment of pure brutality – that made Ali the greatest fighter in Foreman's estimation. Happy birthday to the greatest, Muhammad Ali. 

Click on the photo above for a 1min and 30sec video of the Greatest of All Time. 

 

 

Comments

[California Guy]

Muhammad Ali seems like a complex person who lived a transparent life based on simple principles. George Foreman's reflection of the "Rumble in the Jungle" seems to confirm that Ali answers to a "higher calling" (his principles) even though the boxing rules of engagement permitted the delivery of that "punch never thrown".

[Ramon]

A Great tribute to Greatest Of All Times.

[Fred]

Boxing was just the game with some skills and techniques. what made Muhmmad Ali the Man, a great human being, is what he did by not throwing that punch. He could have very badly hurt Foreman, something many boxers do. He did not do that to a falling opponent. Such incidences along with his off Boxing service to people made him The Greatest. Positively impacted the lives of billions of people on this earth.
What is inside that counts.

[jimmy]

What about the unbecoming behaviour towards Joe Frazier though? Still the greatest? :(

[Paul Jones]

With the earthly passing of "The Greatest", much of his life, his boxing, his quotes, his beliefs have been revisited. I have yet to hear a comment about the greatest punch never thrown. It is something that I recalled from a photographic biography of Ali, from the forward penned by George Foreman. That "non" punch made him the greatest. It meant so much, and still does. RIP Ali.

[Robert]

I think his conduct toward Frazier was particularly egregious. I think it shows that he too was human. I suspect Ali had tremendous remorse for that. Life is complicated. And he did it very well. The non punch is truly amazing. Just watching the replay, it was right there for so long. I believe every other boxer in the world throws that punch. Ali, in the moment, and a huge moment, taught us by his actions that it matters how you win. A great man. And, the Greatest of All Time!