It?s like losing your virginity. I mean a great fighter having a perfect or near-perfect night in the ring. Just like abandoning virgin status, you can only experience it one time.
For Muhammad Ali, it came on Nov. 14, 1966, when as a 24-year-old blend of speed, power and ring smarts, he strutted into the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Houston Astrodome, to face a 33-but-going on 40 banger named Cleveland Williams.
Although he?d been shot up by Texas Rangers, Williams was still plenty fearsome, still the ?Big Cat? who hit as hard then as puncher supreme Earnie Shavers did later. The .357 magnum slugs in his body did not weaken his vaunted ability to hit you and hurt you.
But Ali sparkled in front of an awesome crowd of 35,640 fans who paid into a record gate of $461, 290 (a record that stood for 25 years).
He was cut like a Greek god at his perfect weight, 213 1/2 pounds The Cat, who weighed 212, had a chilling record of 65-6, 51 by knockout and 15 of those in the first round.
He was a whirling dervish and, although no one knew it at the time, the seventh title defense of Ali would be his last bout for almost four years. Ali refused induction into the army, refused to fight ?them Viet Congs,? and was deprived of his liveliehood.
I really think that, on this night in the Dome, Ali was the most unbeatable fighter I ever laid eyes on.
A pluperfect fighting machine, that?s what Ali was that evening. He ripped off six-punch combinations and then drilled Williams with eight punch combos. One of those eight punch volleys made the Big Cat bleed.
Williams was floored for a six-count, got up and then was decked for a five count. The bell rang to end the second round.
A left-right dropped Williams in the third, he got up again and the slaughter was waved off at 1:08 of the round.
This Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, I fully expect Pinoy idol Manny Pacquiao to have a remarkable night, to put on a nearly flawless performance against a very good fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez.
All the stars are in the proper alignment for Megamanny.
His is in the best physical condition he?s ever been in.
He?s absorbed virtually all the lessons and tricks he needed to from Coach Freddie Roach.
He?s fighting a counterpuncher whose legs might start to go on this night. Marquez is 34 and maybe his mileage will start to show in the middle and later rounds.
Manny seems to have no outside of boxing problems or distractions.
I am not saying Manny runs through Juan Ma like a hot knife through butter. But I am saying that I expect Pacquiao to shine like new money.
He is in his absolute prime so anything less will be a huge disappointment.
Let?s see the magic, Manny. Let?s see something like the magic Muhammad displayed in the Astrodome against the Big Cat.
It?s your night, Megamanny, make the most of it.
