Muhammad Ali will go down in history as ‘The Greatest’ after his wins over Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sonny Liston, and more, but even the best wasn’t unstoppable.
Muhammad Ali retired in 1981 after his second consecutive loss and struggles with Parkinson’s disease.
Ali would leave the sport with a record of 56-5, and is remembered to this day as the best heavyweight to ever lace the gloves.
His final fight came against Trevor Berbick, and he enlisted a star sparring partner to help him train for it.
“He’s a much better man than Berbick”… Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns tipped Muhammad Ali to win after sharing the ring with ‘The Greatest’
Ahead of the Berbick fight, Ali sparred with Thomas Hearns, the only man to KO Roberto Duran, and a man 50% responsible for one of the greatest moments in boxing against Marvin Hagler, who legally became Marvellous after KOing Caveman Lee.
Some resurfaced footage shows the spar, with Hearns speaking on Ali’s abilities ahead of his fight:
“I had the pleasure of seeing Berbick […] He don’t have the style of Ali, he’s not the same kind of fighter as Ali, and I feel that Ali’s ability, I feel that he’ll go on and be victorious.”
Unfortunately Ali wasn’t just facing Berbick, as his deteriorating health proved to be an opponent he couldn’t beat. Ali lost to Berbick by unanimous decision.
This was his second consecutive loss since losing to Larry Holmes, whom Mike Tyson promised Ali he’d beat.
Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali share heartwarming moment as Ali’s battle with disease worsens
In a video shared by Fox News, Mike Tyson paid a visit to Ali in 2014, by which time Ali’s battle with Parkinson’s was worsening.
Tyson shared a heartwarming moment with Ali when, instead of pitying his condition or giving him unwanted sympathy he instead spoke to him like a boxer:
“Watch me champ, I’m fast, watch the feet champ” He said as he imitated Ali’s iconic shuffle.
Ali raised his hand, recognizing the skill of Tyson, and the respect ‘Iron Mike’ had for him.
Ali passed away two years later, leaving behind a great legacy for the sport of boxing.