Fred Stoner Taught Ali the Science of Boxing.You have to find your purpose. Go to school. Learn to read and write. What is your purpose, your occupation? Find your purpose. What do you have to find? Purpose! They shouted gleefully in unison. True to form, one of Muhammad Ali's favourite inscriptions when signing autographs is; Love is the net where hearts are caught like fish. Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jnr., on the 17th of January 1942, he was raised in a clapboard house at 3302 Grand Avenue in middle class Louisville, Kentucky. He began boxing at the age of 12. A white Louisville patrolman named Joe Martin, who had an early television show called Tomorrow's Champions, started Cassius Clay as he was known working out in the Louisville's Columbia Gym, but it was a black trainer by the named of Fred Stoner who taught him the sweet science of boxing. Fred Stoner taught him to move with the grace of a dancer, and impressed upon him the subtle skills necessary to move beyond good and into the realm of greatness. Cassius Marcellus Jnr was destined for greatness. The first indication of his talent was winning the 1960 Olympics Gold Medal in Rome. Ali Could Throw The Jive and Rhymes Better Than Any Other BoxerAfter winning an Olympic gold medal at 18, Ali signed the most lucrative contract a 50-50 split negotiation by a beginner in professional history of boxing, with a 12-member group of millionaires called the Louisville Sponsoring Group. He worked his way into contention for the coveted heavyweight title shot. Boasting and creating media interest at a time when, by his own admission, he was rated number nine on the list of contenders. Even from the beginning, it was clear that Muhammad Ali was his own man quick, strong willed, highly original, and was exceptionally witty. In 1961 while still using his Christian name Cassius Clay, he told Sports Illustrated Gilbert Rogin. Boxing is dying because everybody's so quiet. What boxing needs is more of the Cassius Clays. He was intelligent enough to know that his rhymes and press grabbing claims creates infusion, creates interest, and more money into the sport of boxing. Cassius Clay was his own best public relations man. In February of 1964 he told readers of Sports Illustrates. If I were like a lot of heavyweight boxers you wouldn't be reading this story right now. If you wonder what the difference between them and me, I'll break the news and I can jive. You never heard of them. Muhammad Ali’s Jab Was A Third Faster Than Sugar Ray Robinson The Muhammad Ali of 60’s was the fastest heavyweight ever. In the May 5, 1969 Sports Illustrated, Ali’s jab was measured with an omegascope. Muhammad Ali’s jab, it was found, could smash a balsa board 16.5 inches away in 19/100 of a second. It actually covered the distance in 4/100 of a second, which is the blink of an eye. Jimmy Jacobs, who owned the world’s largest collection of fight films, said that on film tests with a synchronizer Ali’s jab was a third faster than Sugar Ray Robinson. Jacobs contended that Ali was not only the fastest heavyweight, but also the fastest fighter he ever saw on film. Marv Jenson, who had managed Gene Fullmer, agreed that “Muhammad Ali has the fastest pair hands ever seen on any heavyweight fighter.” Bob Foster, the world light-heavyweight champion concurred, in an interview after his fight with Ali, “He has no business being as fast as he is. I never saw that right hand.” Muhammad Ali was described as having “lightning fast hands, speed of hands never before witness on a heavyweight boxer. Ali’s Has Good Judgement Of Fight Distance Historian Don Cogswell wrote, “Muhammad Ali, in his first title reign, presented such a speed disparity between contestants the it appeared somewhat supernatural. The flurry of punches that dropped a a mystified looking Brian London in the third frame, the right that stopped an earnest Zora Folley in the 7th round of their match presented by the right that immediately preceded it as seen by Angelo Dundee and a few others, suggested that Muhammad Ali was operating in another time zone. Muhammad Ali had a pair of legs that moved around the ring like a ballet dancer. Ali would float just out of range with his hands dangling at his side as if to taunt his opponent.” “In his prime Muhammad Ali takes his mistakes, shows them to you, and then beats you with them.” Muhammad Ali got away with his mistakes because of his astoundingly quick reflexes, speed of foot, and an uncanny ability to gauge distance. Ali, was able to out-speed his mistakes, danced gracefully across the ring, his lateral movement and fleetness of foot made him the master of ring center. Ali’s judgement of fight distance can only be described as nothin more than a man from another world with extraordinary abilities. Ali divided the ring into “safety zones” and “danger zones.” |
