Muhammad Ali and Kevin Doyle came to different decisions about their careers but will scientific advances make decisions any simpler in the future?
There’s a story Larry Holmes tells about the night he fought Muhammad Ali for the world title, 37 years ago today, that gives an insight into the epic self-delusion of the greatest heavyweight champion of all.
From the first bell Holmes grasped that Ali wasn’t the same man he had sparred with for years. That he was weak and “slower than Heinz ketchup”. Yet Ali’s “damn pride” meant that he would not quit. It took 10 rounds before Ali’s trainer, Angelo Dundee, pulled him out. Before then Holmes had started praying that he wouldn’t damage his friend permanently.
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