Category Archives: Ali

Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #1 of 6)

Ali, David Martinez, History

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

As there are no current or scheduled fights happening on which to report due to the COVID-19 situation, I am posting six of my personal accounts on Muhammad Ali for your enjoyment.

This six-part series was first published starting back in November 2008 on a monthly basis. So it’s now my pleasure to bring the articles back to you on a weekly basis with each edition to include different Muhammad Ali photos from my private collection.

I will start this series’ first edition, by saying that the best closed-circuit fight that I ever attended was with my father, Daniel J. Martinez, and two of my best friends, Al Garcia and Hector Ybarra, at the Santa Barbara, California “historic” Granada Theater. On March 8, 1971, we saw the most eagerly anticipated championship fight that I have ever been involved with in all my years in boxing … Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali.

I was so excited come fight time that I left my work early on that Monday afternoon just to be sure I was the first one in line to get tickets and the best seats: front row center balcony. I got both to view the fight.

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Fifty Years Ago

Ali, David Martinez, FLASHBACK, History

FLASHBACK *** This article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on February 25, 2014. Please Note: If this article were written today, the title, of course, would read “Fifty-Six Years Ago”. Also, I’m happy to share with you this Muhammad Ali jacket – a treasure in my collection!

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

If you were around then, as I was, you know that it was fifty years ago this month that Cassius Clay (now known as Muhammad Ali) shocked the world by stopping Sonny Liston to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

The stoppage came after six complete rounds; but when the bell sounded to begin the seventh round Liston remained on the stool, not able to continue. The fight officially went into the record books as a seventh round knockout win for the young, brash confident 21 year old champion, Cassius Clay.

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Muhammad Ali vs. Cleveland Williams / Full Fight Telecast

Ali, David Martinez, Heavyweights, Video

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

This is Muhammad Ali certainly at the pinnacle of his career.

It was November 14, 1966, Houston Astrodome, for the world heavyweight championship, scheduled for 15 rounds.

While watching, note Ali’s fleet foot speed, tremendous left jab and punching power.

This was Ali at his best … his very best; and try to keep in perspective that you are watching a heavyweight fighter and not a lighter weight fighter.

Ring Side commentators: Don Dunphy and Jim Brown

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World Cup and Boxing Cross Paths

Ali, Bob Quackenbush, FLASHBACK

*** FLASHBACK  – This article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on June 10, 2010. The 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia, and runs from June 14 through July 18.


By Bob Quackenbush / for dmboxing.com

Friday, June 11, 2010 marks the beginning of a month-long sporting event that is viewed by more people around the globe than any other, including the Olympic Games.  What is this event?  The World Cup soccer tournament.  Held every four years, this spectacle captivates audiences from Asia and Africa, to North and South America, and, of course, Europe.  People from all walks of life will be watching on everything from fuzzy-imaged old TV’s to the fanciest LCD/HD big screens, as well as in person at stadiums throughout the host nation which is South Africa.

Why would an article about soccer (or “football” as it is known in most of the world) show up on a boxing website?  The reason is that the two sports crossed paths over thirty-two years ago in a special way.  On October 1, 1977, the great Pele, generally acknowledged as the most outstanding soccer player of all time, was wrapping up his career at Giants Stadium playing his final game with the New York Cosmos of the old North American Soccer League.  A true ambassador of the sport, Pele, who had played his entire career for Santos F.C. of Brazil, and for the Brazilian National Team, came to the United States in 1975 to play for the Cosmos and to give the sport a “shot in the arm” in the USA. This match was his testimonial game, as the Cosmos faced his former club, Santos, with Pele playing one half for each team.

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Why Mike Tyson is NOT in My Top Ten

Ali, David Martinez, Eddie Futch, Ernie Terrell, FLASHBACK, Harold Lederman, Heavyweights, Rankings, Rusty Rubin

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on September 8, 2008


By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

I have rated many fighters in many different divisions, eras, and ethnic groups. One of my first ranking features that I posted on this Web site (see Archives / August 2007 or Rankings on menu to view) was my view of the top ten heavyweights of all time (i.e.) “Rating the Heavies”, in which I have gotten some criticism for not including Mike Tyson in my elite group.

First let me say that it is always a pleasure to write what I have seen in my 48 years of following boxing as a sport I deeply love. I have seen every heavyweight champion fight, either by living during his era, by film or by speaking with individuals who actually saw these champions fight, even at the turn of the 20th century. I respect everyone’s opinions and, of course, have mine to tell after having studied this very subject, giving a great degree of research on my part.

As I get older, the majority of people who have disputed that Tyson could have beaten Ali or Holmes if they fought in their primes are mostly people whom, if I asked, “Who was Cassius Clay?”, would not know the answer any more than they would know that George Reeves was the first Superman. This simply tells me that they never knew the fighter that beat a more feared man than Tyson ever was, that being Sonny Liston, and who also survived the biggest knock down in his career in the 1963 Henry Cooper fight, and all when he was Cassius Clay.

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Muhammad Ali / Part 6 of 6

Ali, David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Heavyweights

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*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on November 23, 2010

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This is the sixth of a six part series of my personal accounts of Muhammad Ali. In Memory of Ali, I have displayed six articles and also included photos of my collectables for viewing.

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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

This is the last of a six part series on Muhammad Ali.  It has truly been my pleasure to share with you my personal accounts of THE GREATEST heavyweight champion in my era of boxing.

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For those of you who have missed any of this special series, you can simply go to the menu on this website and click on the category, Ali , to view each part.

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Muhammad Ali / Part 5 of 6

Ali, David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Heavyweights

Ali Part 5 - 1

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on October 23, 2010 

Ali Part 5 - 2

This is the fifth of a six part series of my personal accounts of Muhammad Ali. In Memory of Ali, I will display these six articles and will also include photos of my collectables now through this month of July for viewing.

Ali Part 5 NEW B

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

In part five of my six part series on Muhammad Ali, I would like to give you my personal view of ten incredible highlight facts during his boxing career:

Ali Part 5 - 3

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Muhammad Ali / Part 4 of 6

Ali, David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Heavyweights

Ali part 4 lead

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on October 10, 2010

Ali part 4 C

This is the fourth of a six part series of my personal accounts of Muhammad Ali. In Memory of Ali, I will display these six articles and will also include photos of my collectables now through this month of July for viewing.

Ali part 4 A

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

In part four of my six part series on Muhammad Ali, I will go back to almost the exact time when I started to follow boxing – 1961. It was June of that year and I just celebrated my thirteenth birthday and as a young boy, I eagerly anticipated every boxing match and its results, as I still do today.

Ali part 4 B

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Muhammad Ali / Part 3 of 6

Ali, David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Heavyweights

part 3 MAIN
*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on September 26, 2010

part 3 C
This is the third of a six part series of my personal accounts of Muhammad Ali. In Memory of Ali, I will display these six articles and will also include photos of my collectables now through this month of July for viewing.

part 3 A
By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

In part three of my six part series on Muhammad Ali, I will give my personal views of three fights during his career that he emerged victorious – but by close margins and conceivably could of lost as well.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Part 3 of 6 →