Tag: Muhammad Ali

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Why Muhammad Ali was great in the pocket

Great pocket quarterbacks and great boxers have one thing in common — they have to navigate small areas against controlled aggression.

With all the talk these days about how much quarterbacks must win outside the pocket (and that’s certainly true), one must never underestimate the importance of pocket movement — that is to say, the ability for a quarterback to move around in a pocket the size of a small boxing ring, and create positive plays with chaos all around him.

From Tom Brady to Joe Burrow to Patrick Mahomes, there are a few quarterbacks who set themselves apart with their sense of defenders around them, how they move around that chaos, and how they can expand that boxing ring with that sense of movement and expansion.

In that regard, Muhmmad Ali would have been a great pocket quarterback. While Ali’s opponents like Joe Frazier and George Foreman were all about cutting the rung in halves and quarters to suffocate you and then beat you into submission, Ali reacted to that ideally with his short-area elusiveness, forcing those constriction experts to flail around the ring more than they would have liked.

For Ali’s opponents, the end result was exhaustion. Ask Foreman, who lost The Rumble in the Jungle because Ali rope-a-doped him and forced him to go to parts of the ring to which he didn’t want to travel.

In this week’s episode of “The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” Greg (of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup) and Doug (of Touchdown Wire) discussed the ideal attributes for the modern NFL quarterback, and pocket movement was a point of focus.

“You have to be able to function intelligently and athletically at game speed amidst a lot of chaos,” Greg said of those pocket savants. “You’re in a cauldron of fire. You have to move, but at the same time, maintaining balance, maintaining footwork, and keeping your eyes downfield. You never want to look at the rush. You have to have a feel.

“One of the first things I learned when I started working with Ron Jaworski in 1989 or 1990, and he told me, ‘You never want to see the rush; you have to feel the rush.’ Certainly quarterbacks who are more pocket-driven growing up in the game, like a Dan Marino or a Tom Brady or a Drew Brees… they grow up feeling the rush, because their first instinct is not to leave the pocket. Quarterbacks who are great movers, they may be the best athletes on the field, so anytime they feel anything [pressure], they’re going to leave [the pocket].

“But you want to have the ability to move within the pocket, and I’ve always used the analogy of the area of a boxing ring, but smaller.”

And there you have it.

You can watch the entire “Xs and Os” about building the perfect quarterback right here.

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You can also listen and subscribe to “The Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Warning: Buy Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou at your own risk

Warning: Buy Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou at your own risk.

I provide the exact same warning every time a “fight” like Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou is announced.

When we learned Floyd Mayweather would face Conor McGregor, I wrote that there was nothing wrong with buying into the mismatch as long as you understood what it was. If you found value in it, forking over the exorbitant pay-per-view fee made sense.

Fury vs. Ngannou is the same thing, an elite boxer vs. an MMA fighter with no formal boxing experience and almost no chance of winning. If you want to see it anyway, God bless you.

Of course, as a boxing fan, I’m disappointed that the 34-year-old Fury went this direction. He should be fighting Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua or another top big man, not a novice who will be 37 when they meet on Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia.

Fury is the best heavyweight in the world, in his prime, he should be building his boxing legacy, not taking part in sideshows.

I’ll tune in when the time comes and it will be mildly interesting to see how quickly and in what manner Fury will knock out an opponent who really isn’t qualified to fight him beyond his striking experience in MMA, which will not have prepared him for what he’ll encounter in October.

Indeed, from a competitive standpoint, this matchup couldn’t be much worse. However, from a business standpoint, it’s brilliant.

First, let’s make something clear: This promotion is going to be successful given Fury’s popularity in his world, Ngannou’s following in his and the curiosity factor of a crossover fight. Who doesn’t take a peek at a car crash when driving by one?

As a result, Ngannou will make more money than he ever made as a mixed martial artist, although no figures have been reported. He essentially won the lottery. And Fury will enjoy another windfall with next to no risk, which is the best possible investment.

I don’t like the matchup as a sports event but, as a capitalist, I understand and appreciate the decision to make this fight.

And remember: Fury isn’t the first boxer to pull such a stunt.

I already mentioned Mayweather, who closed out his career with a 10th-round knockout of an overmatched McGregor. The event was a huge success, generating a reported 4.3 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S. and around $600 million in revenue.

Another example is Muhammad Ali, who famously faced Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1976, five years before his final sanctioned boxing match. And George Foreman defeated five boxers on the same night in 1975, a bizarre, but intriguing spectacle.

So Fury isn’t breaking new ground. He’s simply making a living while he continues difficult talks with fellow titleholder Usyk and countryman Joshua, both of whom will probably face Fury before all is said and done.

Fury has yet to fight this year. We can all understand his desire to stay busy and provide for his family. Yes, he could also make good money against a fringe contender or even a journeyman but not the kind of payday he’ll command against Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, which has a lot of money to spend. That’s why he’s doing this in lieu of a big genuine fight.

This brings us back to my initial thought.

Once again, Fury vs. Ngannou isn’t a competitive matchup. It’s a gimmicky, glorified sparring session between big men who normally take part in different sports. If you find value in that and still want to buy the pay-per-view, enjoy it. If you believe that this is a serious sporting event, wake up!

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Warning: Buy Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou at your own risk

Warning: Buy Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou at your own risk.

I provide the exact same warning every time a “fight” like Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou is announced.

When we learned Floyd Mayweather would face Conor McGregor, I wrote that there was nothing wrong with buying into the mismatch as long as you understood what it was. If you found value in it, forking over the exorbitant pay-per-view fee made sense.

Fury vs. Ngannou is the same thing, an elite boxer vs. an MMA fighter with no formal boxing experience and almost no chance of winning. If you want to see it anyway, God bless you.

Of course, as a boxing fan, I’m disappointed that the 34-year-old Fury went this direction. He should be fighting Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua or another top big man, not a novice who will be 37 when they meet on Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia.

Fury is the best heavyweight in the world, in his prime, he should be building his boxing legacy, not taking part in sideshows.

I’ll tune in when the time comes and it will be mildly interesting to see how quickly and in what manner Fury will knock out an opponent who really isn’t qualified to fight him beyond his striking experience in MMA, which will not have prepared him for what he’ll encounter in October.

Indeed, from a competitive standpoint, this matchup couldn’t be much worse. However, from a business standpoint, it’s brilliant.

First, let’s make something clear: This promotion is going to be successful given Fury’s popularity in his world, Ngannou’s following in his and the curiosity factor of a crossover fight. Who doesn’t take a peek at a car crash when driving by one?

As a result, Ngannou will make more money than he ever made as a mixed martial artist, although no figures have been reported. He essentially won the lottery. And Fury will enjoy another windfall with next to no risk, which is the best possible investment.

I don’t like the matchup as a sports event but, as a capitalist, I understand and appreciate the decision to make this fight.

And remember: Fury isn’t the first boxer to pull such a stunt.

I already mentioned Mayweather, who closed out his career with a 10th-round knockout of an overmatched McGregor. The event was a huge success, generating a reported 4.3 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S. and around $600 million in revenue.

Another example is Muhammad Ali, who famously faced Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1976, five years before his final sanctioned boxing match. And George Foreman defeated five boxers on the same night in 1975, a bizarre, but intriguing spectacle.

So Fury isn’t breaking new ground. He’s simply making a living while he continues difficult talks with fellow titleholder Usyk and countryman Joshua, both of whom will probably face Fury before all is said and done.

Fury has yet to fight this year. We can all understand his desire to stay busy and provide for his family. Yes, he could also make good money against a fringe contender or even a journeyman but not the kind of payday he’ll command against Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, which has a lot of money to spend. That’s why he’s doing this in lieu of a big genuine fight.

This brings us back to my initial thought.

Once again, Fury vs. Ngannou isn’t a competitive matchup. It’s a gimmicky, glorified sparring session between big men who normally take part in different sports. If you find value in that and still want to buy the pay-per-view, enjoy it. If you believe that this is a serious sporting event, wake up!

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2023 PFL 5 video: Muhammad Ali’s grandson Biaggio Ali Walsh blitzes opponent for first-round finish

Biaggio Ali Walsh picked up another impressive finish in an amateur bout on the main card of 2023 PFL 5 in Atlanta.

Fast hands run in the family, and [autotag]Biaggio Ali Walsh[/autotag]’s latest display might have been his most impressive yet.

The grandson of boxing legend [autotag]Muhammad Ali[/autotag] scored a first-round knockout on the main card of 2023 PFL 5 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. The amateur bout against Travell Miller was Walsh’s fourth straight win, with an official stoppage time of 3:27.

Walsh’s hand speed has been a problem for his opponents. Combined with his aggression and composure, he picks his spots well, which resulted in a devastating finish after a left hook dropped Miller in the opening round.

Check out video of the finish below (via Twitter):

After stumbling in his amateur debut, Walsh has since rattled off four straight first-round knockout finishes and has appeared ready to make the jump to professional competition. PFL has featured three of Walsh’s amateur bouts; wins over Tom Graesser, Isaiah Figueroa and Miller.

Walsh has previously stated he won’t rush to become a pro, and will make that call when his coaches at Xtreme Couture belive he’s ready to take things to the next level.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 5.

Biaggio Ali Walsh: Grandfather Muhammad Ali would have loved Conor McGregor’s peak trash talk

Biaggio Ali Walsh says his grandfather Muhammad Ali would have appreciated Conor McGregor’s trash talk.

[autotag]Biaggio Ali Walsh[/autotag] says his grandfather, [autotag]Muhammad Ali[/autotag], would have appreciated [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s trash talk.

Legendary boxer Ali, who is widely considered as one of the most influential athletes of all time, was known for his sharp tongue and his ability to back it up in the ring. Ali passed away in 2016 after a battle with Parkinson’s.

McGregor’s rise in the UFC drew comparisons to Ali, which “The Notorious” was honored by. Speaking to TMZ, Ali Walsh was asked if his grandfather would have been a fan of MMA, and the rising amateur fighter says yes – especially McGregor’s wit on the mic.

“I think he would’ve liked MMA,” Ali Walsh said. “I think ’76 it was, he took a fight with a famous wrestler. MMA really started with the question of what martial art is the best. You would have the jiu-jitsu guy fight the judo guy, the wrestler fight the striker, etc. He had that question in the 70s, so that question was always there.

“I think he would have been a big fan of MMA, especially at the time when Conor was in his featherweight run, Conor was doing his peak trash talk and stuff, he would’ve loved it…and he backed it up, too. That’s a huge thing.”

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Walsh (2-1) meets Isiah Figueroa (1-1) in an amateur bout at 2023 PFL 2 on April 7 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The 22-year-old recently said he won’t turn pro until he’s ready and his coaches think it’s time.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL 2.

Gerrie Coatzee, former heavyweight champ from South Africa, dies at 67

Gerrie Coatzee, a former heavyweight champ from South Africa, has died at 67.

Africa’s first heavyweight world champion has died.

Gerrie Coatzee, a South African who won a major belt on his third try in 1983 and was a critic of apartheid, succumbed to lung cancer on Jan. 12 at his home near Cape Town, according to the New York Times. He was 67.

Coatzee, unbeaten at the time, lost a close decision to John Tate in a 15-round fight for the WBA title – which Muhammad Ali had vacated – in 1979 in South Africa. And he was stopped by then-WBA champ Mike Weaver in 13 rounds the following year, again in Coatzee’s native country.

Finally, Coatzee (33-6-1, 21 KOs) won the same strap when he knocked out previously unbeaten Michael Dokes in 13 rounds at Richfield Coliseum, near Cleveland. He lost his belt to Greg Page by a third-round knockout in his first defense, in 1984, once again in South Africa.

The soft-spoken Coatzee, who was white, fought during the apartheid era in his country. He was critical of the system, which earned the admiration of leader Nelson Mandela. The Times reported that Mandela, a political prisoner at the time, sent Coatzee a letter of encouragement before the Dokes fight. Afterward, Coatzee sent a video tape of the fight to Mandela.

The fight against the African-American Tate took place in front of the first integrated crowd – 81,000 strong – at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the capital of Pretoria, the Times reported.

“What really makes me happy is for Black, brown and white people to accept me as their fighter,” he said before the fight. He added, “People should be treated on merit and not on race or color.”

One schoolboy interviewed by the Times was asked about the two fighters.

“Coetzee is a better fighter and a more principled man,” he said. “Tate is just here to collect a purse. … Coetzee will use the title to speak out against apartheid.”

Coatzee went on to promote fights for a time, including a stint in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.

Gerrie Coatzee, former heavyweight champ from South Africa, dies at 67

Gerrie Coatzee, a former heavyweight champ from South Africa, has died at 67.

Africa’s first heavyweight world champion has died.

Gerrie Coatzee, a South African who won a major belt on his third try in 1983 and was a critic of apartheid, succumbed to lung cancer on Jan. 12 at his home near Cape Town, according to the New York Times. He was 67.

Coatzee, unbeaten at the time, lost a close decision to John Tate in a 15-round fight for the WBA title – which Muhammad Ali had vacated – in 1979 in South Africa. And he was stopped by then-WBA champ Mike Weaver in 13 rounds the following year, again in Coatzee’s native country.

Finally, Coatzee (33-6-1, 21 KOs) won the same strap when he knocked out previously unbeaten Michael Dokes in 13 rounds at Richfield Coliseum, near Cleveland. He lost his belt to Greg Page by a third-round knockout in his first defense, in 1984, once again in South Africa.

The soft-spoken Coatzee, who was white, fought during the apartheid era in his country. He was critical of the system, which earned the admiration of leader Nelson Mandela. The Times reported that Mandela, a political prisoner at the time, sent Coatzee a letter of encouragement before the Dokes fight. Afterward, Coatzee sent a video tape of the fight to Mandela.

The fight against the African-American Tate took place in front of the first integrated crowd – 81,000 strong – at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the capital of Pretoria, the Times reported.

“What really makes me happy is for Black, brown and white people to accept me as their fighter,” he said before the fight. He added, “People should be treated on merit and not on race or color.”

One schoolboy interviewed by the Times was asked about the two fighters.

“Coetzee is a better fighter and a more principled man,” he said. “Tate is just here to collect a purse. … Coetzee will use the title to speak out against apartheid.”

Coatzee went on to promote fights for a time, including a stint in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.

Celtics’ Malcolm Brogdon to receive Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Respect

The former Indiana Pacers guard broke down what motivated him to get involved with the efforts, and how much of an honor the recognition for those efforts garnered.

New Boston Celtics point guard Malcolm Brogdon is set to be honored for his foundation’s work in Tanzania and around the globe with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Respect Award. The head of the eponymous Brogdon Family Foundation, the Celtics floor general works at creating increased access to clean water and good education for all in the areas it works.

Brogdon recently linked up with team reporter Amanda Pflugrad to talk about the work his organization did that earned him the honor from the foundation of Boxing great Muhammad Ali.

The former Indiana Pacers guard broke down what motivated him to get involved with the efforts, and how much of an honor the recognition for those efforts garnered.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear all Brogdon had to say about the award and what went into being tabbed for the honor.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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PFL’s Biaggio Ali Walsh has fighting family legacy, but he’s ‘not that different from any other fighter’

Biaggio Ali Walsh loves that he’s the grandson of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, but he hopes to create his own name.

[autotag]Biaggio Ali Walsh[/autotag] loves that he’s the grandson of legendary boxer [autotag]Muhammad Ali[/autotag], but he hopes to create his own name.

Training out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Walsh is 1-1 in mixed martial arts. The 24-year-old lost his debut by second-round submission this past June but rebounded with a first-round TKO win on Aug. 27.

When he enters his third amateur bout at the 2022 PFL Championships on Nov. 25 in New York, Walsh wants to put on a memorable performance.

“I embrace it,” Walsh told MMA Junkie Radio on being Ali’s grandson. “I love talking about my grandfather. I love my grandfather. We’ve had so many memories together, and talking about him just inspires me more, so I embrace it every time it comes up. But at the same time, I’m Biaggio Ali Walsh, and that’s why I’m here. I’m trying to make my own name, my own legacy. At the end of the day, that’s what every fighter is trying to do, so I’m not that different from any other fighter. I just have a famous grandfather.”

He continued, “My short-term goal right now is just to win fights and get as much amateur experience as possible. My long-term goals is obviously I want to win the belt, I want to win $1 million and just know that I was able to do that myself. Long-term, I want to be a great mentor for martial arts.”

Ali is arguably the most recognizable sports figure ever, and Walsh loves being linked to him. However, Walsh is even more inspired by his grandfather’ actions outside of the ring than inside of it.

“I think the non-athlete is what stands out to me more,” Walsh said. “Obviously he was a terrific boxer, he had great trash talk, as well. He was the one who basically started that, but outside of the ring, he was the coolest, nicest person you ever meet. He never said no to an autograph, he never said no to a handshake. He would meet somebody and make their whole day. I think it was the non-athlete that stuck with me more.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for the 2022 PFL Championships.

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Biaggio Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali, taking his own path into MMA

Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, is taking his own path into mixed martial arts.

Biaggio Ali Walsh was in a dark place only a few years ago. Drinking, drugs and depression were leading him down a dangerous path. And then he found a purpose in the family business, combat sports.

Ali Walsh is the grandson of boxing Hall of Famer Muhammad Ali.

His aunt, Laila Ali, also built a Hall of Fame boxing career. His brother, Nico, is a professional boxer. And now it’s his turn, although he decided to go into mixed martial arts, not the sport of his famous grandfather.

Still, the late, great heavyweight champion serves as a primary source of inspiration for Ali Walsh, who recently signed an amateur contract with the Professional Fighters League and will fight on the PFL World Championship card Nov. 25 in New York (ESPN+ Pay-Per-View).

“He’s been an inspirational figure since I was a kid,” he told Boxing Junkie. “… It was weird when I would visit him. On one hand it was like, ‘OK, this is my grandfather.” On the other hand he was an icon. He was someone I looked up to, someone the world looked up to.

“He’s just always been an influential part of my life.”

Biaggio Ali Walsh got off to a late start but is confident he can succeed in mixed martial arts.

Ali Walsh carved out his own path in sports. Quick on his feet and physically strong, his passion was football. He was a star running back at Bishop Gorman High school in his hometown of Las Vegas and then played at the University of California and UNLV.

However, when his career ended, he had no idea what might come next. That’s when he “got lost,” as he put it.

Then he made a fateful decision: He enrolled at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, a mixed martial arts school founded by Randy Couture. Ali Walsh’s intention was to stay in shape but he soon found a home in the sport, to which he’s now devoted.

Why not boxing? He gravitated to MMA in good part because of the variety of disciplines required to succeed, which he has always found fascinating.

“I went there just to train a little bit,” he said. “The more and more I went I slowly fell in the love with it. I said to myself, ‘Why not?’ I’m still young, I still have a chance.’ I don’t want to be 35, 40 years old and wonder whether I could’ve been a good fighter.

“So I dived into the world of MMA.”

Ali Walsh, 24, had no experience other than occasional street fights. When you’re name is Ali, he said, some people are compelled to pick fights with you. “I’d whoop ass,” he said with a laugh.

The MMA world was a different story, though. He was starting late and the learning curve was steep, which he knew would make the endeavor a daunting challenge. He even Googled, “Is it too late to start MMA at 21?”

Well, Ali Walsh (1-1 in his first two amateur fights) doesn’t believe he started too late. He works full time with coach Dennis Davis and believes he gets better every day.

“I’m going balls to the wall,” he said. “… Randy Couture started MMA when he was 34. I know this is different but it’s not impossible. If you have the will, you can get the skill. I’m just taking it a step at a time.

“I want to get as much experience as possible and just leave it up to my coach when he thinks I’m ready to turn pro.”

What about the pressure that comes with being the grandson of a legend?

That will always hover over him but he’s used to it, having lived with the expectations since he first took up sports as a child. At the same time he now feels mixed martial arts is what he was born to do, his destiny. There is strength in that.

“Fighting,” he said, “is in my blood.”