Page 12 THE BATTALION
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1978
Spinks and Ali: the odds couple
United Press International
NEW ORLEANS — Beyond the
super-hype and theater of tonight’s
Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks II ex
travaganza, there is the beauty of a
great betting light.
Muhammad
Ali
The odds have been floating bet
ween 2-1 and 3-1 in Ali s favor. But
there is a strong feeling among
many observers who have seen both
fighters train, Spinks is being taken
too cheaply by the betting public.'
Debate among the “fancy” at
hotel bars and around the gym has
been lively. Some argue that after
his performance when he won the
heavyweight championship Feb. 15
and his superior condition right
now, Spinks can’t lose. Others say
Ali is ready to fight this time and
wasn’t ready seven months ago.
Man to man, Ali and Spinks con
trast sharply in several critical areas
L
and the differences add up to a
gambler’s delight.
Physical Advantages — Ali is an
inch taller and about 20 pounds
heavier than Spinks. Ali also has a
four-inch longer reach. Being
lighter and 11 years younger, the
25-year-old Spinks is quicker and
more active.
Experience — Ali has been fight
ing professionally for 18 years and
has a 55-3 record with 37 kayos.
Spinks turned pro late after a career
in the Marines and has a 7-0-1 re
cord with five kayos.
Physical Condition — Ali, 36, is
in the best shape he can get into at
his age. His muscle tone is good and
his legs are strong. But his reflexes
are going or gone. Spinks is stream
lined raw power, not an ounce of fat
on him. Spinks holds a large advan
tage in this area.
Mental Attitude —r Ali appears in
a more determined frame of mind
than he has for any fight since Joe
Frazier three years ago. Spinks says
he’s fighting to “hold on” to what
he’s got. Neither man is lacking in
confidence.
Style — Ali is most effective when
he jabs and throws combinations off
the jab. He’ll try to circle Spinks,
one way, then another, try to eon-
Leon
Spinks
fuse him and hurt him in flurries.
Spinks will try to cut off Ali by trap
ping him in a corner and whaling
away to his ribs and head and shoul
ders when Ali covers up. And, at
this stage, Spinks’ continual assault
is the perfect way to beat Ali.
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United Press International
HOUSTON — Success for O.J.
Simpson against the Houston Oiler. 1
has been as elusive as mistagged
luggage in an airport.
The San Francisco 49ers running
back, who played nine seasons al
Buffalo before a trade earlier this
year, has carried a football against
Houston in six previous games. He
is still hasn’t gained more than 66
yards in any of those contests.
Houston defensive end Elvin
Bethea said he wants to change
nothing in his final meeting with
“The Juice.
“The main thing when playing
O.J. is to attack him as quickly as
possible in the beginning of the
game, Bethea said. “You’ve got to
show him it’s oing to he a tough day.
Then sometimes he s not so aggres
sive.
Previous meetings appear to label
Bethea s reasoning as sound. In the
five previous meetings Simpson has
rushed for 209 yards on 75 carries, a
2.7 average. His best rushing game
was 58 yards on 13 carries in 1969,
the first year he faced the Oilers.
Since then he has gained 26, 29, 57
and 3 yards.
To make things worse, Houston
won all five previous meetings with
Simpson and the Bills.
Bethea is the only Oiler to play in
all five of those games, and he ad
mitted that stopping Simpson has
not been easy.
"When we’ve played him, it’s al
ways been a physical game. He
never complains. I remember one
time Zeke (Moore) twisted
Simpson’s ankle at the end of a play.
O.J. didn t try to get up and fight
Zeke. He came back just as hard on
the next play, said Bethea.
Bethea, and 11-year veteran, and
middle guard Curley Culp have
made Houston’s defense a formida
ble force in the NFL. After two
games this season, Houston, 1-1, is
in its usual place near the statistical
top of the NFL defensively. The
Oilers have allowed 233 yards per
game.
Mark
Patterson
Lble-
antli
Battle of New Orlean
pace;
han i
They’ve labeled it the Battle of New Orleans and fight fans aroimi
the world hope it is just that; a battle. Around the world sports fan
will be tuning in the fight and watching perhaps the most well knom
man in the world at work.
Whether you agree or disagree with the things he says and does
you’ve got to like Muhammad Ali’s style. And if you re a boxing fa
you can’t help but thank the man for bringing boxing out of $
shadows and raising it to the status level it has achieved throiighfa
B
i»c
This is beginning to read like an obituary and rightly it skull % >
Because in all probability the fight tonight will mark the passingof|^/ ^
lengend, the end of an era. If the champ (and I use the termoulj
respect) regains the heavyweight title for the third time, and become
the only fighter in history to do so, he has hinted that this titleligl!
would be his last.
How serious can he be about retiring? That’s hard to decided
Just thinking back a little over a year ago Ali announced his retfa
merit only to sign for another series of bouts and title defenses. Andii I
millions of dollars a fight, who would want to step aside and spectate I
But the talk of retiring was before Ali lost his title to theyoo^l
Leon Spinks in February of this y ear. It was hack when thediaijl
had defeated everyone he had faced and still held the title. Andiwl
importantly, before Ali had celebrated his 36th birthday. ,
And on that fact alone, that Ali is 11 years Spinks’ senior, itinj
fight fans and analyzers are picking the youngster to defend hislij
and send Ali to his resting place.
But what took him to the Olympic gold metal in the 1960 Rom
games and on to winning the heavyweight title on Feb. 25,1SS
against Sonny Liston on a seventh round knockout might still belli
the champ tonight. Tonight s contest might be just the stimi
needed to jar Ali into old form. Because for the first time in
fighting career Ali has something to prove to his public.
The last six times he s stepped into the ring to face a challenger,.! 1011
has been described as old. slow and grossly out of shape. F.ven hisj ISL
nemesis, Howard Cosell, has begun to put down the champ beeau
of his performances. Yet Ali has successfully defended his title agaii
the likes of Jimmy Young, Ken Norton and Earnie Shavers. Son
could hardly blame the champ for so lightly reguarding the upsti
Spinks (seven previous fights before the Ali match) when they met
Dis Vegas. After all, Spinks had not even fought a 15 round fij
before the Ali match. The champ had nothing to worry about.
Yet his carefree attitude cost him the title as Spinks relentless
showered Ali with punches throughout the fight, ultimatly winni
the crown. That was exactly seven months ago tonight and since lit
time both fighters have learned a lot about themselves. Espe
Ali.
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"That man (Spinks) didn t belong in the same ring with me, s u
Ali reflecting on the last fight. He just got lucky and caught meo!|
guard.
I didn’t take him seriously Nobody had heard of him before, onlj^
sex en pro liuhts they said. That s \v hat threw me off I thought it wa 111
an easy four million dollars. I didn t have to work, he wasn’tgoingti
hurt me. 1 thought 1 could get the sucker, he wasn’t nothing.
Nigger was baaaaad. And crazy. He ain t got no sense. He don
care about nothing. JT'STI
“And tb e man was so nothin everybody expected me to beat flld to
so bad I didn t have to train for him. I didn’t run. I was fat. I iiWiond:
tired. I went into the ring at 227 after I had dinner. I just laidonKmages
ropes. I’m 220 now—pretty. Ain’t I pretty? Ain t I ready 5 Theyrkxas Su
talkin this trash, be s too old. he don’t like to work, he can’t stand tWIThe b
hard work.’ W idmarl
"They forgot they’re talking about the greatest of all time, fmtjpdama
greatest of all time. Last time Spinks fought an illusion. This time lAed in
got to fight Muhammad Ali." patmei
,1 Attoni
he used to beflij
If Ali can regain even a shadow of the fightci nc u»cu ^
contest wall he decided from the opening round. There neveriwr 011
fighter with the skill and talent of Ali when in his prime. And
of that legendary boxer will defeat Spinks.
1 think Ali will take the young Spinks and the fight won’tppasL
the ninth round. 1 hope it doesn’t. A decision might prompt a thin J’P
meeting. And that might interrupt some retirement plans
ges for 1
ept. 20,
ool at t
Bernie and Clyde agree on
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Come on out. You’ll love it!
Just 2V 2 miles west on Hwy. 60 (University Dr.) 846-6483.
Mrs. \
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SEPT. 14, 15 & 16
Fairgrounds - Caldwell, Tex.
Street Dance Wednesday Night ★ Music by Good Vibrations
THURSDAY*** Parade
Queen Contest
Little Miss Contest
FRIDAY*** Rodeo
Dance (Dennis Ivy)
SATURDAY ☆ ☆ ☆ Little Britches Rodeo
Livestock Auction
Dance (Johnny Lee)
Carnival & Rides, Exhibits, Beer Garden,
Chili Cook-Off, Bar-B-Que Contest and Much More!
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