What Boxer Fell Hardest From Genius Status at First Career to Sad Pathetic Punchbag in their 30's and 40's

[Willie Pep 229]

You know things that are not even on the books yet, (and never will be).

Ali (Clay) did fail the Arms Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) in 1964.

As it was so often with American minorities the period, we don't know if his intelligence was in question or if he had been deprived a reasonable education.

In 1966, desperate for men (American-Vietnam War) the USA reduced the Qualification for conscription (Project 100,000) reevaluating 300,000 AFQT applicants, from 1960 through 1965, moving 100,000 of them from 1-Y to 1-A status.

Clay was caught in that 100,000 group and became eligible for conscription. On April 28th, 1967 Ali refused to take the one step forward (literally) and the shit hit the fan.

[QueensburyRules]

Ali (Clay) did fail the Arms Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) in 1964.

As it was so often with American minorities the period, we don't know if his intelligence was in question or if he had been deprived a reasonable education.

In 1966, desperate for men (American-Vietnam War) the USA reduced the Qualification for conscription (Project 100,000) reevaluating 300,000 AFQT applicants, from 1960 through 1965, moving 100,000 of them from 1-Y to 1-A status.

Clay was caught in that 100,000 group and became eligible for conscription. On April 28th, 1967 Ali refused to take the one step forward (literally) and the shit hit the fan.

- - Ali weren't outright dumb, but he was never smart and wouldn't have graduated HS if not the school recognized he was a "special" type of kid who was also quite popular.

He was never gonna be even in a Community Jr College. Had he not been a transcendent boxer, he'd have been lucky to be granted entrance into a trade school as he had barely above zero attention span.

[Willie Pep 229]

- - Ali weren't outright dumb, but he was never smart and wouldn't have graduated HS if not the school recognized he was a "special" type of kid who was also quite popular.

He was never gonna be even in a Community Jr College. Had he not been a transcendent boxer, he'd have been lucky to be granted entrance into a trade school as he had barely above zero attention span.

These Project 100,000 kids sent to VN were called the "dumbbell brigade" by their sargents and officers. It was obvious they were slow on the pick-up and that they would not do well in combat.

[max baer]

- - Ali weren't outright dumb, but he was never smart and wouldn't have graduated HS if not the school recognized he was a "special" type of kid who was also quite popular.

He was never gonna be even in a Community Jr College. Had he not been a transcendent boxer, he'd have been lucky to be granted entrance into a trade school as he had barely above zero attention span.

i agree, these type of men are **** or bust type geniuses they follow one goal to be the greatest at it and neglect all other aspects of their learning. In the uk we have footballers like paul gascoigne who was so focused on football that when retired he wasn't good at life in general.
I guess you american's have the same sad stories of sporting icons who are not good at the mundane of daily life and maybe get drunk too often to deal with it.
Fury is lucky to have the wife that he does i reckon he realises how lucky he is to have her.
i am convinced of the genius of great sporting men. I admire these guys so much.

[max baer]

In terms of "potential greatness vs unhappy ending" I'd also add Andrew Golota in there.

i agree with you. Galota to me was so strange. against Bowe he was up in both fights but kept hitting low blows and people say he was just such a dirty fighter. Then against iron mike he quit and the fans pelted him with drinks.
I don't blame him for tyson as mike was so damn strong and fearless it was like his thug period where he was totally off the rails. But Galota remains a strange character if you see how the polish people loved and hated him in equal measure.
this is a great rummys corner about him. Love rummys corner!
i forgot how talented chris byrd was. i need to recap on him as he was in some great fights!

[max baer]

tyson.jpg does this look like a man who is down? Mike couldn't look better and I am so happy for him. My all time fav boxers are tyson fury, iron mike, ali, frank bruno and john conteh.
All of them have had their drink problems (cept ali) and all of them came out the other end. That gives me such inspiration I really mean that I get happy when i see people i admire in life happy and down when they are down. I'll never forget when tyson fought bruno and we watched it at 3am in the snooker club and i was shaking with nerves because i couldn't support one over the other and being of edgy disposition i just shook and farted and fretted all the fight.
All's well that ends well.

[soul_survivor]

This thread is made for RJJ. Guy went from HBO marquee to getting KOd by every fighter he fought later on. He might just make a top 50 now.