Dave Semenko vs Muhammad Ali

[carjackmalone]

Never saw this before

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[Killer Orcas]

Thanks for sharing never knew of this before either. Looks like was fun event Ali was dancing and the tush rub on Dave haha. Damn Dave was jacked as well.

 

[Crosby2010]

Ali at this time was retired. He had lost to Trevor Berbick in 1981 and that was it for him. His speech was slurring by this time and while I know this was a fun event with Semenko and they didn't look like they were hitting their hardest, I am still surprised Ali agreed to do this. I did know about this fight and such and I think it goes to show you how much Ali loved being in the ring. He was still doing his rope-a-dope thing.

 

[MeHateHe]

I do remember this, although I don't recall it being filmed in Etch-A-Sketch.

People, especially those of us subjected to Oilers coverage non-stop, thought Dave Semenko was the toughest guy ever. He was surely a menacing guy on the ice, and most other NHL players were wary enough of him to avoid him.

So this was a fun event playing off of that reputation. I don't remember the dollar amount, but I remember hearing Ali was paid very well for this. Fun event or no, I still hate that this happened. The unspoken tone was that Semenko was somehow Ali's equal (the 'fight' was declared a draw) and the athletic purist in me sees that as diminishment of Ali's athletic stature. Ali was a true boxing genius, a brilliant and beautiful fighter and even in his slow condition would have mopped the floor with Semenko in a real fight, of course,

 

[Gorskyontario]

Ali was old, mid stage Parkinsons, and probably not taking it very serious. It's cool that it happened but Prime Ali(or most heavyweight contenders, especially in the 60s-70s) probably knock almost all the toughest hockey players out in under 2 minutes.

Also Ali did fight the toughest Canadian ever. He fought George Chuvalo twice. First fighter to go the distance with ali, then did it again a few years later.

 

[MadLuke]

probably knock almost all the toughest hockey players out in under 2 minutes.

I think the giant gap between pro boxer and anyone else just growth as the time goes (a bit like McGregor vs old Mayweather), specially versus 45s shift/fight specialist that is quite muscle heavy, they could knock them fast, but would be much safer to take their time.

Maybe Ali being too much in that example, let say a lifelong mediocre boxer, that learned the hard way efficiency.

 

[Hanji]

Ali fought Semenko to put on a show for the fans. Everything was about entertainment at that point. The purpose wasn't to defeat Semenko.

 

[Gorskyontario]

I think the giant gap between pro boxer and anyone else just growth as the time goes (a bit like McGregor vs old Mayweather), specially versus 45s shift/fight specialist that is quite muscle heavy, they could knock them fast, but would be much safer to take their time.

Maybe Ali being too much in that example, let say a lifelong mediocre boxer, that learned the hard way efficiency.

The 60's-70s was by far the best era in heavyweight history in terms of amount of contenders and good fighters. There are random NHLers who have done and won golden gloves tournaments like Red Kelly, and Maurice Richard. Ironically even if those guys weren't known as fighters(Although Richard was tough). There is a huge difference between fighting on the ice, and dedicating your entire career to a pure combat sport.

As tough as Probert, Semenko, Dave Brown, Kocur, McSorley ect. As tough as all those guys were, I can't see any of them lasting more then 90 seconds against Jerry Quarry, who was maybe the 7th or 8th best heavyweight of the 60s-70s, who was 6 ft 190 pounds roughly. Roughly the build of an average hockey player.

 

[MadLuke]

The 60's-70s was by far the best era in heavyweight history in terms of amount of contenders and good fighters.

by time goes at mean during the fight, i.e. the gap between them during the first 45s would tend to be much smaller than if they ever reach the 5th round.

That why I can imagine them thinking those guys have an heavyweight puncher chance in the first round, so even if I could beat them fast it is the only way I could loose, by trying to do so, if I box them instead and go for 3-4 round I am certain to win it.

 

[Gorskyontario]

by time goes at mean during the fight, i.e. the gap between them during the first 45s would tend to be much smaller than if they ever reach the 5th round.

Some boxers were slow starters. Some went fast. Earnie Shavers scored 23 first round knockouts. He was said to be the hardest puncher of all time, although not a great fighter in a technical sense.

Joe Frazier on the other hand, while being one of the best boxers of all time. At worst the 2nd best in fighter/swarmer only behind Marciano. Was a notoriously slow starter, but used his defensive discipline and endurance to break down opponents.



That's Quarry knocking out Shavers in around 2 minutes(skip to 90 seconds for the fight). Again white guy, under 200 pounds(no Cruiser weight back then). Similar build to a hockey player. That's how I envision most of these theoretical fights ending.



Hockey fighting in general, isn't that applicable to being a professional fighter in a boxing ring. Not to trash Semenko, he was again a tough guy and obviously it was publicity for him and Ali, but his ring movement is completely clueless. In a real fight he would have been toast, because plain and simple he isn't trained for it.

 

[Moose Head]

Ali did a few of these side shows in his later career. Kind of sad actually that he needed the money so bad:

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Ali was old, mid stage Parkinsons, and probably not taking it very serious. It's cool that it happened but Prime Ali(or most heavyweight contenders, especially in the 60s-70s) probably knock almost all the toughest hockey players out in under 2 minutes.

Also Ali did fight the toughest Canadian ever. He fought George Chuvalo twice. First fighter to go the distance with ali, then did it again a few years later.

But Ali couldn't have beaten any of them on skates.

Chuvalo was the toughest heavyweight I ever saw. But he wasn't really a topflight heavyweight. All the real contenders beat him easily.

 

[daver]

Ali was old, mid stage Parkinsons, and probably not taking it very serious. It's cool that it happened but Prime Ali(or most heavyweight contenders, especially in the 60s-70s) probably knock almost all the toughest hockey players out in under 2 minutes.

Naw, even Ali would go "Ogiltorpe?!"

 

[Gorskyontario]

But Ali couldn't have beaten any of them on skates.

Chuvalo was the toughest heavyweight I ever saw. But he wasn't really a topflight heavyweight. All the real contenders beat him easily.

That's true on both counts.

Chuvalo was a good fighter and probably the toughest heavyweight ever. He was probably in the 8-12 range if ranking all fighters from the 60s-70s(his weight class). So solid but obviously not really a top guy. It's a shame he never fought Liston, that's probably the best fighter he could have had a favourable matchup with stylistically.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

That's true on both counts.

Chuvalo was a good fighter and probably the toughest heavyweight ever. He was probably in the 8-12 range if ranking all fighters from the 60s-70s(his weight class). So solid but obviously not really a top guy. It's a shame he never fought Liston, that's probably the best fighter he could have had a favourable matchup with stylistically.

Good matchup in that Chavalo had a granite jaw and Liston had dynamite in his fists.

 

[carjackmalone]

Joe Bugner was a top heavyweight in the late 60’s early 70’s he retired around 74-75 fought once or twice over the next 20 years,made a comeback mid 90’s and won a heavyweight championship fight at 48-49

 

[57special]

Ali was old, mid stage Parkinsons, and probably not taking it very serious. It's cool that it happened but Prime Ali(or most heavyweight contenders, especially in the 60s-70s) probably knock almost all the toughest hockey players out in under 2 minutes.

Also Ali did fight the toughest Canadian ever. He fought George Chuvalo twice. First fighter to go the distance with ali, then did it again a few years later.

I would run into George on occasion on Queen St. East in a local Greek restaurant. He was probably the scariest person i've ever seen. This was in the late 70's.

Lionel Conacher of the Leafs fought a 4 round exhibition bout with Jack Dempsey. Conacher was actually a good boxer, though not Dempsey good.

 

[Gorskyontario]

I would run into George on occasion on Queen St. East in a local Greek restaurant. He was probably the scariest person i've ever seen. This was in the late 70's.

I met Chuvalo when he was doing his anti drug speeches in high schools. Absolutely brutal life story.

 

[Dingo]

Ali did a few of these side shows in his later career. Kind of sad actually that he needed the money so bad:

I don't think Ali was ever even close to short of money. He just liked being in the ring in front of people. I'm sure he only stopped due to his condition.

Ali was rich and wasn't taken advantage of by promoters. The only thing that cut into his fortune was his philanthropic personality.