HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY TO THE GREATEST!

[Kevin Finnerty]

Today marks the 70th birthday of The Greatest, Muhammad Ali.

Happy Birthday, Champ!

[JaxRolo]

Nice! I miss the days when boxing was boxing!

(null)

[Kevin Finnerty]

I never thought the day would come that we could say something like that. Am I really that old?

[JaxRolo]

I never thought the day would come that we could say something like that. Am I really that old?

We must be! :no:

[Jeff C.]

I read a nice article on si.com about the Thrilla in Manilla. These two cats could really fight. Didn't Ali have his jaw broke by Ken Norton and still knocked out Norton? Ali was the MAN.

[Kevin Finnerty]

The fight in which Ali fractured his jaw was a 12-round, non-title fight against Norton in 1973, which Ali lost in a split decision. Ali's jaw was fractured in Round Two and he somehow lasted the full 10 more rounds. It was their first of three fights, of which Ali won two. The rematch was a non-title 12-rounder at the Forum in September of 1973 (the one Ali fight I attended), and their third fight--for Ali's title--was in 1976 at Yankee Stadium.

When he went up against Norton, Ali had lost only to Joe Frazier at that point, and the relatively unknown Norton's decision over him was thought by many to be career threatening for more than just the jaw injury. But Ali came back later that year and avenged the defeat to Norton and the next year, beat George Foreman to reclaim the heavyweight title that was stripped from him seven years earlier.

[Kevin Finnerty]

The Thrilla in Manila

This was perhaps the greatest heavyweight fight in history. It's hard to imagine how there could ever be a better one.

Watch it again sometime. It's the supreme example of sheer human determination that you will see in any sport. And that goes for both Ali and Frazier!

[Jeff C.]

Thanks Kevin for getting me the correct info. I always thought Ali won that fight where he broke his jaw.

[Kevin Finnerty]

You are quite welcome!

Interesting thing to watch for: When you watch the Thrilla, or any of Ali's fights, check out one thing: Ali always threw a head shot. Every single punch. He never went to the body. That was part of how he stayed so far away from his opponent. He didn't like to get in close too often. He threw a few body shots early in his career, but none after his comeback in 1970.

No one ever seems to bring that up. It's very cool once you know it and watch for it.