Rope-a-dope

[bdawg56kg]

I have a few questions on the rope-a-dope. First, why was Ali able to pull it off so well against guys like Frazier and Foreman? Why haven't other fighters used it? Also, didn't the ropes technically hold Ali up? If it weren't for the ropes surely he would've gone down, especially when he leaned way back to avoid punches. Thanks.

[0Rooster4Life0]

I have a few questions on the rope-a-dope. First, why was Ali able to pull it off so well against guys like Frazier and Foreman? Why haven't other fighters used it? Also, didn't the ropes technically hold Ali up? If it weren't for the ropes surely he would've gone down, especially when he leaned way back to avoid punches. Thanks.

The Rope A Dope didnt work against Frazier to be Honest, Joe had good Stamina and loved just standing there and pounding at Ali, It worked against Foreman Because it allowed George To gas himself out, But in todays fighters a tactic like the Rope-a-dope wouldnt really Work, Ali was Lucky Foreman fell for it. And to be honest , Stand there on the ropes isnt exactly a great fight plan, only Ali could really pull it off.

[Sugarj]

Ali was blessed with a granite chin and a ridiculous ability to absorb body blows. Not many heavyweights have these two qualities.

That said Ali often urinated blood after fights and clearly suffers from Parkinsons syndrome now so hell, not the best qualities to milk.

Larry Holmes and Chris Byrd fought very well off the ropes, doing their own versions of rope a dope.

It would never have worked for Lennox, Wlad or Tyson though.

[GJC]

Stand there on the ropes isnt exactly a great fight plan, only Ali could really pull it off.

At a cost which became apparent later
Kind of relys on the other guy not picking his punches and throwing wildly and having stamina problems. Your whole fight plan relys on the other fighter making some fundamental errors and so is not in your own hands.
Wlad would probably throw one punch per round and retreat. It would be enough to win each round but the fight would stink the place out.

[princemanspoper]

yes because as we all know,Everybody who suffers from parkinsons syndrome spent a living taking blows to the head

It worked against Foreman Because it allowed George To gas himself out, But in todays fighters a tactic like the Rope-a-dope wouldnt really Work, Ali was Lucky Foreman fell for it. And to be honest , Stand there on the ropes isnt exactly a great fight plan, only Ali could really pull it off.

I seem to recall Ali effectively countering foreman while fighting off the ropes throughout the fight.Perhaps you have fallen for the old cinderella myth that surrounds that fight and honestly believe foreman was destroying ali on the ropes the entire fight until ali poked him in the face

[StarshipTrooper]

I have a few questions on the rope-a-dope. First, why was Ali able to pull it off so well against guys like Frazier and Foreman? Why haven't other fighters used it? Also, didn't the ropes technically hold Ali up? If it weren't for the ropes surely he would've gone down, especially when he leaned way back to avoid punches. Thanks.

Well, in truth he wasn't able to pull it off against Frazier: Joe was simply the wrong fighter to try that on and Ali paid for it by soaking body punches in Manila. Against head hunters like Foreman and some others Ali made it work because his sense of timing was so superior to others.

Poet

[GJC]

yes because as we all know,Everybody who suffers from parkinsons syndrome spent a living taking blows to the head

So you don't believe that Ali's boxing career had any effect on his condition today then?

[StarshipTrooper]

So you don't believe that Ali's boxing career had any effect on his condition today then?

The one's that don't are frequently "punch drunk" of course.....Jerry Quarry come to mind? Heard Evander Holyfield talk lately anyone?

Poet

[Sugarj]

Ha ha, Parkinson's 'syndrome' is not Parkinson's 'disease' Prince.

A syndrome is merely where the sufferer exhibits symptoms of the disease. In most cases these symptoms are brought on by head trauma, obviously in the case of boxers. Very rarely will you find a person with Parkinson's 'syndrome' who has not had some form of head trauma. Where there is no head trauma but Parkinson's symptoms, the diagnosis is usually Parkinson's disease.

[princemanspoper]

I'm very much aware of such differences but the is no way to actually prove such a link.All you can go along with is speculation

So you don't believe that Ali's boxing career had any effect on his condition today then?

It's a possibility,however it's not certain.From what I have read there have been a few of his family members who have suffered from the condition at a relatively young also