Ali - The Fighter

Starring:Ali the Fighter
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Before Muhammad Ali, plenty of African American heavyweights boxed, but few did for the game (or for blacks) what Ali did. Ali was bold, outrageous, and controversial. His antics outside of the ring showed an often-hilarious flair for self-promotion, and his conversion to Islam and decision to avoid the Vietnam War only fueled the storm of controversy that surrounded him. The thing about Ali, though, was that he was good enough to get by with it; after all, it's hard to argue with success. In the ring, he showed a sheer prowess and technique that few before or since could approach (the bonus CD-ROM discusses the similarities and contrasts between Ali and the great Joe Louis). Outside the ring, Ali had a sharp mind, good looks, and the strength of his own convictions going for him. This DVD contains footage of Ali's 1964 fight in which he slaughtered Sonny Liston, the 1974 bout where his technique got the better of George Foreman and his fearsome punching power, and the brutal 1975 fight against Joe Frazier (all fights are shown in their entirety). There have been few heavyweight boxers who can compare favorably to Muhammad Ali, and this DVD should be in the collection of all those who consider themselves fans of the sport. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Introduction to Muhammad Ali!.......2006-12-14

This is a great bargain! You get three of Muhammad Ali's most justly celebrated fights (Ali-Liston I, Ali-Foreman, and Ali-Frazier III), plus one hour long documentary of Ali on one DVD.

You see Cassius Clay/Ali's huge heart in surviving Liston's furious fifth round assault, then coming back to whitewash Sonny in round six. You also see Ali's resiliency and toughness in outlasting and outfighting the heavily favored George Foreman.

Finally, you see Ali against Joe Frazier in the Thrilla in Manila with Don Dunphy and Ken Norton calling the fight.

The Ali documentary was filmed in the early 1980's, so you don't get the revisionist history and reflection associated with the longer lapse of time.

This Ali DVD must be the greatest. Highly recommended.

I AGREE WITH A VIEWER!.......2006-03-18

I don't understand why they don't release the career's of (boxing bigist names Ali included). There are websites on the Internet that claim to sell career sets for just about every fighter you can think of. The Problem is that what they are offering are burned (Homemade) DVD'S. These sites claim that the DVDS are high quality but, these DVDS freeze and the audio doesn't go along with the picture. There are TV ads in them LOL. That is Anti-piracey (sp) and it is highly illgal. Last but notleast they charge too much. Like I said I don't see why the studio's can't produce sets legally like they do EVERYTHING ELSE. They produce wreasliing, Baseball, Baseketball and Football DVDS. They release all these sports programs on DVD but Boxing gets overlooked. I DONT'T GET IT!!!

This is the DVD to buy.......2004-07-06

"Muhammad Ali, the greatest collection"

THIS IS THE DVD TO BUY

This has lots of boxing.
The whole fight with original microphone.
a) 1964 Clay vs Liston [THE WHOLE FIGHT]
b) 1974 Ali vs Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" [THE WHOLE FIGHT]
c) 1975 Ali vs Frazier "Thilla in Manila" [THE WHOLE FIGHT]

Just highlights of some fights: [JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS]
a) 1960 Olympics Z. Pietrzykowski of Poland
b) 1960 Turnney Hunsinger
c) 1962 Archie Moore
d) 1964 Sonny Liston
e) 1965 Sonny Liston rematch
f) 1966 Cleveland Williams
g) 1967 Zorra Folley
h) trouble with the draft board
i) 1970 Occar Bonavena
j) 1971 Joe Frazier
k) 1973 Ken Norton
l) 1973 Ken Norton rematch
m) 1974 Joe Frazier rematch
n) 1974 George Foreman [Rumble in the Jungle]
o) 1975 Joe Frazier [Thrilla in Manilla]
p) 1978 Leon Spinks
q) 1978 Leon Spinks rematch
r) 1980 Larry Holmes

Memories of the golden era of heavyweight boxing.......2004-02-23

A truly tremendous compilation of Muhammad Ali's best fights. You will get the entire fights along with walk-ins, as well as pre- and after fight hoopla. The best thing is that the fights are shown with the original broadcasting commentary, so the excitement really makes you feel like actually being there back in the seventies. The only drawback of this DVD is the 60 min HBO documentary focusing on the entire career of Ali, where they show only short fight flicks with mixed over studio sounds and studio commentary. In my opinion, the overall quality of the DVD would have been better without the documentary. Sometimes, less is more!

Great DVD value for all fight fans.......2003-08-07

Considering you're getting three full fights, PLUS a one hour biography, PLUS a reference CD-ROM, this is a great value. Perfect for all boxing fans, casual or serious. The "Rumble in the Jungle" fight happens to be my fave.

Champions Forever: World Heavyweight Champs!

Average customer rating:

World HW Champs
"Champions Forever" Documents the Best Five Boxers of the 60's and 70's - Tops!
Great documentary
A Very Uncomfortable Dinner But Great Fights
great overall

Champions Forever: World Heavyweight Champs!
Starring: Larry Holmes , Joe Frazier , Ken Norton , Muhammad Ali , and George Foreman
Director: Dimitri Logothetis
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004S899
Release Date: 2000-04-04

Description

Five champions together for the last time! Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton. For more than twenty years, these kings of boxing ruled the ring as they passed the world heavyweight title from one to the other. Now, for the first time, see them all come face to face--gloves off--in an unprecedented video event, hosted by Reggie Jackson. In "Champions Forever," you'll discover the real men behind the legends, uncover the hidden anguish and secret passions that drove them to greatness. Hear them talk about themselves--and each other--with surprising candor. Relive the most thrilling moments from dozens of their greatest bouts and hear the fascinating truth about how these legends felt when they squared off to do battle. This is unlike any sports video you've ever seen, an exciting, emotional odyssey through the awesome careers of five bigger than life heroes who, for millions of us, will always be "Champions Forever."

Customer Reviews:

World HW Champs.......2007-05-08

Some surprising and candid comments especially by Foreman like the fact that his knees were shaking before the Frazier fight and how imposing Norton looked to him before blasting out both of them.

"Champions Forever" Documents the Best Five Boxers of the 60's and 70's - Tops! .......2005-08-18

"Champions Forever" may be the best boxing documentary of all time. Exquisitely done, it features the five greatest heavyweight boxers of the 1960's and 1970's. The story focuses primarily on M. Ali, beginning with his huge upset victory over the sullen and powerfully intimidating Sonny Liston, and then proceeds to document the rise of Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Kenny Norton, and finally Larry Holmes. While the story seems to revolve around the rise and eventual fall of M. Ali, the other four greats are featured in their biggest fights as well. There are interviews with all five men, and they bring timely commentary to their lives and fights that is both enlightening and informative.

In the heavyweight division, there was no greater period than that of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. These five fighters ruled the heavyweight division during this time, and their fights with each other are now considered classics nin fisticuffs. In watching the documentary, Foreman comes off as the most well-rounded of the five. He shows candor (admitting his knees were shaking when he met Frazier for the first time!), humility (praising the other fighters frequently), and a terrific sense of humor (he has a 1,000-watt smile). The bad blood that Frazier still carries for Ali is clearly evident in his interviews. Frazier believes that Ali verbally taunted and abused him unnecessarily in the build-up to their three intense fights. While Ali says he was only trying to build the gate and create excitement for the fight, (as he did for all his fights), Frazier took the verbal darts personally and it is obvious that Ali's words hurt the intense pride of Joe Frazier. In fact, Frazier is so torn on this that he actually expresses a macabre sense of satisfaction that his powerful punches may have caused Ali's Parkinson's Syndrome. Frazier comes across as a bitter and "small" man based on his comments about Ali. Ali's comments are painful to watch, as he is obviously suffering from the Parkinson's affliction and has little expression and haltering speech. Larry Holmes clearly suffers being in the shadow of the great Ali, and he is somewhat bitter like Frazier, not so much towards Ali, but towards boxing in general, as contemporary boxing did not recognize his greatness at the time. Kenny Norton was champion by default, being "awarded" the title by boxing associations when Ali first retired, and his inclusion is this group may be somewhat questionable. I do not mean to take anything away from Norton, as he gave Ali and Holmes fights that were wars. However, Norton was easily beat by Foreman, while he and Frazier never battled. (I suspect Frazier's powerful shots would have stopped Norton, who was not a KO specialist). Norton's inclusion in this group is clearly due to his three epic battles with the great Ali. Norton's awkward style gave Ali fits and Ali could not dominate Norton with his jab and speed as he did others. Boxing enthusiasts believe Norton won 2 of 3 of their fights, the last fight being "awarded" to the clearly aging Ali based mor on his legend than his ability.

While this is the best boxing film I have ever viewed, I would have loved to have seen two other boxers included, those being Sonny Liston and Mike Tyson. The inclusion of these two men would have summed up the years 1960 - 1990. Obviously, Liston was dead long before this film was made (1989), and Tyson was the current heavyweight champion in 1989. If the film is ever remade (doubtful), it would nice for the sake of completeness to have the life stories of both Tyson and Liston included.

If you were alive during the 70's and want to relive the excitment of that period of boxing, there is no better film to watch than this one. If you are a younger boxing fan and have heard about the great fighters of the 70's, this is the film to watch to learn about these greats. There is simply no better documentary of that period than this one.

HIGHLY recommended.

Jim "Konedog" Koenig, (Boxing Fan and Fight-Film Collector)

Great documentary.......2004-12-18

I don't know if this film had a theatrical release or not but if it did and it wasn't at least nominated by the Academy for Best Documentary of the Year as far as I'm concerned the makers of this film were robbed.

A Very Uncomfortable Dinner But Great Fights.......2004-06-01

A Very Uncomfortable Dinner But Great Fights

Great DVD - 4.25 Stars

This is difficult to review - some of the greatest scenes I've ever seen and some of the hardest scenes I've ever seen.

Here's what's hard- watching what's happened to Muhammad. It's just difficult and sad. He's still the Greatest and still likes to clown, but you just can't help but wonder why or what if...

What's also painful is watching the dinner with these great champions. It's good and bad, but mostly just really uncomfortable.

On to the good.

I've never seen so much great fight footage on one DVD.

You don't get entire fights, but get the highlights. It's absolutely amazing and worth getting the DVD (or VHS) for this only - everything else is gravy.

An absolute must have for any boxing fan.
A great item for any Ali fan - there's actually one moment where Ali talks about coming back and taking on Tyson - and I found myself excited and actually thinking how great that would be...and then waking up to the reality and silently laughing at myself.

If you're a George Foreman fan I think you'll want this as well. George comes across as not only a great champion, but a humble and incredible man as well.

great overall.......2003-11-24

This is basically the tale of the five - Ali, Frazier, Norton, Foreman, Holmes - dominant heavyweights during the 70's, generally regarded the golden age of the division. Of course, Ali and Frazier began their careers in the 60's, but it was in the 70's that all 5 of them occupied the galaxy at the same time and had to inevitably fight one another.

This DVD differs only slightly from the Laserdisc version, but it is the extra interview that makes the difference. It is interesting to hear at least three (or four) of the five wonder how they would have against Jack Johnson. Of course, Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion, but more than that, he was a mold breaker in terms of his defense and in his ability to fight the "mental" game. He knew how to stoke the public and press, literally he was ahead of his time, he was Ali before there was Ali. (And there are not a few computer simulated fights by magazines that would have Johnson beating Ali.)

In the interviews, we also share the sadness that Larry Holmes felt while he was champion, where most of the time he was considered an Ali clone and never really on his own merits. Then, before he even got his due, Mike Tyson eclipsed him. Larry Holmes may have been "technically the best" of the five, and in the interview, he illustrates this clearly; when they still sparred, not only can he block Ali's jab, but he can return it stiffer and sharper. They're about the same in size and reach, and it was not until he was 38 that Holmes was knocked out, so they may have been equal in the density of their chins. Although they're not exactly similar stylistically, Holmes had Ali's 1960's athleticism. Holmes edge? The jab, and the power in both hands overall is just a tad greater.

In the end, that is about my only complaint about this movie. It's that the four other fighters merely serve as a footnote to the great career of Ali. Even that segment where we see Joe Frazier in his brutal duel with Jerry Quarry and his victory over Jimmy Ellis, all we hear is the voice of Ali (while he toured the college circuit) asking students "Who's the champion of the world?!" It's too contrived and in my opinion, bad taste. Even the footages of the political events during the 1960's-early 70's were no doubt there to illustrate Ali's social consciousness and the sacrifice he made for his political position.

Ali was indeed a great fighter, definitely the greatest heavyweight, but his greatness was fulfilled by his duels with the fighters who shared the billing with him in the movie. An even presentation would have been welcome, after all, Ali does not need any help in the promotion department anymore.

Overall, this is a good DVD. However, as a boxing fan, you cannot help but wonder, after watching them in action, how the following matchups, which never happened, would have gone:

-Norton vs. Frazier (they were basically stablemates under Eddie Futch, which probably explains why they never met in a formal match)

-Foreman vs. Holmes anytime around 1974-78. This one, I would have paid to see.

Description

The year is 1971, and former champ Muhammad Ali -stripped of his title for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War-has come to New York City to face unbeaten Joe Frazier for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Award winning filmmaker William Greaves goes behind the scenes at what is still called "The Fight of the Century", including the training, the press conferences, the negotiations, the celebrities and the controversial 15 round battle itself. This is Ali at his funniest, prettiest, fiercest and fastest, in a still stunning look at the fighter know simply as The Greatest.

Customer Reviews:

A great Doc.......2007-03-21

This film really takes you to the time when this fight took place. The footage gathered is top-notch and you are able to see Ali's charisma first hand. The absolute best part of this video is the fight at the end. It was incredible to watch that fight without commentators. It seemed like you could hear every blow and also some of the trash talking going on with the fighters. In my opinion this documentary tops when we were kings and I love that movie. Although I am a Muhammad Ali fan, after hearing some of the blows Joe Frazier was landing makes one gain a whole new respect for him.

Ali-Frazier I Buildup and Battle Misses a Punch.......2007-01-04

This DVD should actually be titled something like Ali-Frazier I Prefight and Fight. The DVD is actually a movie that was first released in either 1971 or 1972 about the first fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

There's some great footage that captures the personalities of both Ali and Frazier. There is also some great training footage of each fighter. The tension of the prefight buildup is captured beautifully. The presentation ends with the actual fight.

So why am I giving this product just three stars?

Because the video quality is very poor.

The producer of this product did no editing to clean it up or digitize it. There are too many scenes where you can't clearly see the faces of the individuals. The visuals are somewhat distorted and the film appears very grainy.

If the producers ever decide to digitize this film, it would be a five, easily.

Average customer rating:

A Hard Days Night
Great Portrait of a Decent Guy
A great piece of pugilist history

The Last Round - Chuvalo vs. Ali
Starring: George Chuvalo , and Muhammad Ali
Manufacturer: New Video Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Classic DVD
Exclusive interviews, highlights, and behind the scenes coverage
DVD's main menu allow you to jump directly to the action
Presented in full-screen digital video

ASIN: B0001A7TO4
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Product Description

One of the most riveting and incredible documentaries ever to be made on the sport of boxing, THE LAST ROUND, chronicles the extraordinary events leading up to the day that George Chuvalo, a real life Rocky Balboa type underdog from working-class Toronto, took on the man known simply as "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali. Set against the backdrop of the turbulent sixties, and a sport embroiled in controversy, the film tells the unbelievable yet true story of the "Battle of Toronto," a legendary duel between the highly favored Ali and the unheralded Chuvalo. After fifteen of the most memorable rounds in fighting history, Chuvalo earned a place in boxing immortality when Ali deemed him "the toughest man" he had ever faced. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Joseph Blasioli, the film follows Chuvalo's career as it takes a harrowing and unlikely path to this defining moment. Fast-paced archival footage of such famous fights as Ali vs. Sonny Liston and Chuvalo vs. Floyd Patterson, plus colorful commentary from sports writers Jimmy Breslin and Robert Lipsyte, boxing guru Bert Sugar, Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee, and his brother, Rachman Ali, all help to bring this dramatic true story to life. In the tradition of the classic boxing documentary When We Were Kings, THE LAST ROUND looks back at one of the most passionately fought matches in the history of heavyweight boxing. A contest that took on mythical proportions, this award-winning film reminds us that despite the odds, and no matter what the circumstances, no fight is over until the final bell rings. Filmmaker Biography; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Amazon.com

"Every fight is the intersection of two stories," someone says in this enthralling documentary about a near-forgotten chapter in boxing history. The stories crossing paths in The Last Round are those of Muhammad Ali, considered by many the greatest pugilist in history and a controversial figure in his 1960s prime, and George Chuvalo, a Canadian fighter whose fortunes swayed radically until he got a near-accidental shot at Ali's heavyweight crown. While the former Cassius Clay was busy re-inventing himself from sassy press darling to Nation of Islam follower and draft resister, Chuvalo switched managers more often than his socks, scraping by, exploited, and increasingly desperate to realize his potential. Ali never took him seriously until a confluence of social and ideological forces put them together in a ring, where their match-up, as we see through archival footage, had more than a passing resemblance to those 15 rounds in Rocky. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A Hard Days Night.......2007-02-05

In 27 rounds spanning two fights, Canadian heavyweight George Chuvalo was never intimidated by Muhammad Ali. And it just may have been a case of an overmatched contender who had a world champion's heart and enough tricks in his unorthodox style to be on his feet when the final bells rung.

Director Joseph Blasioli chronicles the March 29, 1966, Ali title defense in Toronto, Canada, where - at the height of his ring prowess - he captured a 15-round unanimous decision over the game Chuvalo.

Released in 2004, the documentary uses archival footage, clips from previous fights and interviews with Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee, boxing historian Bert Randolph Sugar and abrassive columnist Jimmy Breslin to describe a match that is forgotten amongst the historic fights that defined Ali as one of the greatest champions ever.

In a rematch on May 1, 1972, in Vancouver, Chuvalo again demonstrated his veteran ring savvy in losing another decision to Ali, this time in 12 rounds.

Chuvalo was good enough to dream in this oftentimes brutal sport that he was one well-placed combination away from capturing the heavyweight title. In The Last Round, Chuvalo shows that a champion may not always be the fighter who leaves the ring with the victory for the record book.

Great Portrait of a Decent Guy.......2005-05-21

George Chuvalo was always just a shade below the best heavyweights of his day, and that was a day with some great fighters. If you watch an unedited tape of his bout with Ali you will see that it was a much closer fight then many now believe. He punished Ali severely to the body. Also, he took the fight on short notice.
George later met with trajedy in his life when he lost a son and daughter to drugs and his wife to suicide. He now has a foundation that helps drug dependent people.
Chuvalo is not an old punch drunk pug. He is lucid and intellegent, a testament to the fact that he won the majority of his fights and didn't take many beatings.
In a dvd boxing market that is oversaturated with Ali videos (why no Ali Frazier I, where Ali lost), it is good to see a decent man and good fighter get the recognition he deserves.

A great piece of pugilist history.......2004-07-12

This story is basically told through George Chuvalo, Canada's greatest heavyweight ever. This is a story of a real "Rocky Balboa" and the riviting documentry takes us from George's humble beginnings in Toronto right up to his shot at the heavyweight title in his unforgettable battle with Muhammad Ali. This film has some of the best fight footage I've ever seen that takes you into the ring and behind the scenes and in the locker rooms.
Great commentary not only from Chuvalo but from Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee, writers Jimmy Breslin, Burt Sugar and others connected to the fight scene here in it's last glory days of the 1960's.

Muhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick - The Last Hurrah - Drama in Bahama

Average customer rating:

The Last Hurrah A Must Have
It Should Not Have Ended This Way
Ali's Sad Finale to Boxing
A sad and final chapter to a colorful boxing career.
Guilty Pleasure

Muhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick - The Last Hurrah - Drama in Bahama
Starring: Muhammad Ali , and Trevor Berbick
Manufacturer: Rhino
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Last Round - Chuvalo vs. Ali
The Superfight - Marciano vs. Ali
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45 Fantastic Fights of the Century
Champions Forever: World Heavyweight Champs!

ASIN: B00005YUP4
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Customer Reviews:

The Last Hurrah A Must Have.......2007-03-09

Ali vs Berbick - The Last Hurrah is a must have for any Muhammad Ali
fan! Although it was a sad event when The Greatest retired forever, the
fight itself had reminders of what once was. This DVD evokes emotion
as you watch Ali enter the ring silently, as if being led to the gallows.
But yet he shows flashes of his once brilliant skill; he wasn't just a
"victim" as had been a year earlier against Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes.
All in all, though it may bring a tear to your eye as a fan of the man known as "The Greatest", this DVD is definitely a "must have" in any Ali collection! It is, after all, his final fight.

It Should Not Have Ended This Way.......2006-12-26

It was a fight that had to happen outside the United States because Muhammad Ali could not get licensed due to neurological concerns that could no longer be ignored, which, according to Jack Newfield, was the case prior to the Larry Holmes debacle that took place about 14 months prior to this match.

In that bout, Holmes pleaded several times for the referee to stop the match as he sometimes pulled his punches just enough not to inflict additional damage on a battered, weary & defenseless Ali. Newfield later reported that a neurological exam taken by Ali before that match revealed damage that should have prevented him from ever entering the ring.

But with the beating at the hands of Holmes dismissed as a medication problem for a thyroid condition and Newfield's revelations coming years later, it was on to the Bahamas for a bout that drew very little interest from fans or the media. It wasn't as if Ali had any hope of regaining the magic of years past, it was a case of wishing for the best possible outcome under such sad circumstances.

Berbick - who went on to briefly hold one of the heavyweight titles - had lost a well-fought decision to Holmes and could throw heavy punches, which he showed in the Ali fight, hurting the former champion with tremendous body shots.

Ali was marginally sharper in this bout, though his diminished reflexes could no longer be casually dismissed as being from a reaction to medication. The fight may have been scored "even" until the closing three rounds, when Berbick began to measure & tag a tiring Ali. I feel it can be successfully argued that Berbick carried Ali and only wanted to do enough to win and not embarrass "The Greatest."

After the fight, Berbick said he didn't want to hurt Ali and had nothing but kind words for him.

Boxing is littered with such endings to brilliant careers. The sport - due to its nature - is very unforgiving, with brutal beatings perhaps negated by the compassion of an opponent. In too many ways, this match is not only a tribute to Ali's professional pride, but importantly to Berbick's understanding that he had so much to lose when stepping into the ring with an overmatched legend.

Ali's Sad Finale to Boxing.......2005-09-10

After suffering a horrible beating at the hands of Champion Larry Holmes in 1980, Muhammad Ali refuses to believe that the magical blend of extraordinary skill, ring savvy, and sheer force of personality are gone. Ali blames his loss to Holmes not on his aging battle scarred nervous system, but on the fact that his doctor prescribed for him a thyroid medication (for his sluggishness) that rendered him unable to sweat and left him physically weak. While the medication may have contributed to Ali's defeat, clearly, the primary reason was his magnificent reflexes and boxing skills were eroded to the extent that he was but a shell of his former brilliance. It had been developing for years. Ali had not knocked anybody out for nearly 5 years. Fighters that he could have once beaten with his eyes closed now were giving him real challenges. Earnie Shavers had rung his bell and nearly defeated him. The rank amateuristic Leon Spinks had taken his title and given him a beating (although Ali regained his title in another close match with Spinks 6 months later). Clearly, the once untouchable Ali was now mortal, and fighters he would have easily disposed of in his prime were giving him real battles. And now he'd bean beaten up by Larry Holmes, a savage beating where fight fans, watching through tears, had witnessed the end of the Ali legend.

Even so, Ali's tremendous ego would not let him admit that he was through, and so, in an effort to perhaps redeem himself and to find out if in fact his skills were gone, Ali signed to fight one last time with Trevor Berbick in 1981 (21 years after his professional carerr had started!). The fight took place in the Bahamas. Berbick was just 27 and in his fighting prime. Ali took this fight seriously and trained hard, but despite his preparation, he simply had lost too much and it clearly shows.

The fight is surprisingly even. Berbick should have dominated the aged Ali, but it is a testament to Ali's former greatness that he was able to make this a contest. To be blunt, Ali looks terrible. While his body "looks" good, his grace and fluidity are gone. He looks clumsy as he throws combinations (Ali clumsy? - blasphemy!). His once lighting jab is now average at best and packs no hurt. He even appears to lose his balance occasionally and comes close to tottering over. In short, the most graceful heavyweight fighter that ever lived now looks like a stumbling old man. And yet, Ali's fierce fighting spirit will not relent. Ali is in the final fight of his life and he wants to go out giving his best effort. He aggressively fights Berbick and is not afraid to wade in and trade blows with the younger, stronger fighter. Berbick lands some terrific head blows, shots that Ali would have once deflected or pulled his head away from easily, and Ali lands some good shots of his own, even stunning Berbick several times. But Ali's courageous effort is not enough. His reflexes are slow, too slow for a fighter, and his punching power and snap gone. Ali sees opennings but he is not quick enough to capitalize on them, and before he can tell his right hand to fire, the openning is gone. For a fight fan who recalls the younger Ali this fight is painful to watch.

And so, the great Ali's career as a fighter is over; even Ali admits as much, calling his career has ended after the fight. And while we may feel a sense of sadness for another great fighter's passing, Ali certainly went out holding his head high, giving it his best shot, and having no excuses to fall back on. Ali was the greatest heavyweight champion to ever don boxing attire and there will never be another like him. Still, his former fighting career lives on in fight films, and his new career as world evangelist goes on to this day.

Ali enriched the human condition with this irrepressible personality, his god-like athletic talent, and his quick wit. humor, and charm. His last fight is sad to watch, but it is a fitting last chapter to the Ali boxing story. Ali the boxer was done, Ali the man contines on.

Jim "Konedog" Koeing, Boxing Fan

A sad and final chapter to a colorful boxing career........2002-10-12

Muhammad Ali was a shell of his former self when he stepped into the ring for his final fight against Trevor Berbick. You can see that even in 1981, he had that frozen, Parkinson's look on his face. Like the last reviewer said, you were afraid to watch the fight. But at the same time, you couldn't turn away, either.

But the fight really wasn't that bad. And after eight rounds, the fight was pretty darn close. But in rounds nine and ten. Berbick pounded on Ali, who was looking pretty old and tired and beat up.

It was sad because you could see that Ali knew what to do. But that he didn't hav the speed or the reflexes to pull the trigger at the right time. He would have creamed Berbick ten years earlier. And he would have gotten the decision even five years earlier.

But on this night, we saw an Ali who had been conquered by Father Time. Buy this video if you want to own the last chapter of a storied career. The video comes with a second video of a long, cumbersome, and boring one hour press conference.

Guilty Pleasure.......2002-07-08

Watching this video is like viewing a traffic accident. You don't want to watch and you know you shouldn't, but you can't help yourself. This film is like the flip side to Will Smith's film "Ali," which showed Muhammad at the top of his game. In the "Last Hurrah," we get to see the older Ali, long past his prime and for all accounts and purposes, a "shot" fighter. He's got nothing left as a boxer and sadly, he's a shadow of his former public persona. During the press conference, Ali is hard to understand and his face shows little emotion.

The fight itself is good, bad and ugly. The actual bout is a lot better than I'd thought it be. Ali isn't the flat footed, motionless fighter from the Holmes fight. He actually is quite animated, punching and jabbing and trying hard to contain Berbick. The bad is that Ali puts on a sad imitation of the fighter he used to be. Desperately attempting to rope a dope, motion Berbick forward and dance around the ring. None of it works and Ali ends up looking foolish. The ugly is the sheer physical beating that the young, very strong Berbick gives Ali. To look at Trevor, only 27 at the time, it makes you fear that he might kill Ali. And a lot of his head punches are quite scary. Even more so in hindsight, knowing about Ali's brain injuries.

Description

Gripped by civil war and crime, San Cristobel de Las Casas is a hotbed of turmoil and unrest. The top betting sport is pit fighting, a bloody, ruthless and sometimes deadly game that matches man against man in a fight to submission. The local champion is a gringo known only as The Father - due to his stoic temperament and penchant for wearing black. For five years The Father has been competing, with no memory of anything prior. Events reunite The Father with Marianne. He painfully pieces the fractured memories of his life together through the shadowy characters who knew him in his past and realizes there is only one-way to win redemption, atoning for the sins of a life he doesn't remember. The Father must destroy those who created him.

Customer Reviews:

starts out like your average usa movie, but by the end, it's a real movie........2006-03-16

I gotta be honest, I should have given this a 4/5, but it a 3.5, and I had to go with the 3. Still, this movie is not a martial arts movie, except in the realism sense. It's sort of like the ufc style, but definitely still looks like movie martial arts. Better fight scenes than sy rocky, but won't live up to any of the good chinese martial artists out there.

Still a movie that is worth watching at least a few times.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might.......2006-02-03

PIT FIGHTER is a movie that lives up to it's title. Like ONG BAK and UNLEASHED, it emphasizes real martial arts combat with a hard edge. Given that it's a direct-to-DVD movie with a small ($500,000) budget, this is a great achievement indeed.
In PIT FIGHTER, Jack (Dominique Vandenberg)is a man with no past. For reasons he is unaware of, he has survived a near-fatal bullet to the brain, which has completely blasted his memory away with it, and leaving him stranded in a small town in Southern Mexico. With no money and no identity, Jack befriends Manolo (Steven Bauer, of SCARFACE) and soon discovers he is a martial arts expert, and gets involved in the sport of Pit Fighting, one of those absolutely-no-rules martial arts fight clubs, and after dominating as the reaigning champion for the last five years, he sees a woman he hasn't seen in five years. His past begins to return to him, and, after being baptized as a Catholic and trying to reconcile himself with God, he realizes, "I may not have been the best of men."

Belgian-born Dominique Vandenberg is no stranger to martial arts. A former legionairre, he has been training since the age of four, in everything from Muay Thai and Judo to Krav Maga and Kyokushinkai Karate. He is known for thraining Leonardo DiCaprio in knife-fighting for GANGS OF NEW YORK, but by far, hi most noted pre-PIT FIGHTER role was as the fighter who gets frozen by Sub-Zero in MORTAL KOMBAT.

Dom brings a suitably hard-edge to PIT FIGHTER. His kicking ability is fantastic, and the sight of his agile, quick hands in motion is nothing short of jaw-dropping. His many opponents range from challenging to push-overs. Dom's first match in th Pit along with his two matches against Andre 'Chyna' McCoy, who doubled for Lurence Fishburne in THE MTRIX, are the best.

If you like brutal but beautiful martial arts choreography, PIT FIGHTER is right up your alley.

Crap Fighter.......2005-10-30

Being a big mixed martial arts fan, I was interested in 'Pit Fighter' when I saw it in the store. The write-up on the back sounded interesting and the blurb on the back stated that "the fight scenes are the stuff of legend". I should've known better. I knew it would be crap but I gave it a chance anyway. And do you know what it did? It sodomized me.

The story goes a little something like this: some random dude(played by Dominique Vandenberg, fresh off his fabulous role as a corpse in 'Gangs Of New York')who gets shot in the head. He wakes up, gets medical treatment from some outlaw doctor, and then becomes an underground pit fighter. Oh yeah, he's got amnesia and a lame tattoo("Marianne")on his chest. That's pretty much it.

'Pit Fighter' is pure excrement. The script is lame crap, the acting is pathetic crap, the fight scenes are crappity crap, the special effects are laughable crap...you get the idea. There's nothing well done here at all. And as for the fight scenes being "stuff of legend"...ha, my ass they are. They are the stuff of "completely forgettable, low budget straight-to-DVD cinema". And if you're going to make a film about fighting, you should get actors that look comfortable fighting. All of the scenes are just awkward, filled with quick cuts so that you never see a punch/kick land, and do that speed up/slow down thing a million times. Annoying and lame.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but half of the dialogue in the film is made up of "um"s and "uh"s while the actors try to remember their monosyllabic lines. Now, I realize that this is a low budget action flick and I don't expect Oscar-worthy performances but 'Pit Fighter' is just horrible. Not to mention, the plot is slow and meandering(absolutely nothing happens to move the plot along in the first half-hour or so of the film). And one of the funniest things in the flick is that it is set in Mexico, but about half the cast have Australian accents. Ha. Excrement.

Avoid this like naked pictures of your mother.

Pit Fighter.......2005-10-17

The movie was alright, not great, I had lots of people watching this movie with me and same respond as me.

I t can be better.

Rocking, a blitzing blasting, blood letting good time!.......2005-09-05

I really enjoyed this film on Spike TV, so I searched it out! Frankly the DVD is even better than the TV version, there is certainly a lot more violence in it, the eye popping out in the fight scene. A very brutal film, not for your grand mother, but I loved it. I am a true fan of Sam Peckinpah, too, so maybe it's just me.
There was definitly something about this story that worked very well. Give it a go. But be warned, it has a rough, edgy feel to it. Not your polished studio fare!!

Average customer rating:

Excellent Introduction to Muhammad Ali!
I AGREE WITH A VIEWER!
This is the DVD to buy
Memories of the golden era of heavyweight boxing
Great DVD value for all fight fans

Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Collection
Starring: Muhammad Ali , George Foreman , and Joe Frazier
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Boxing | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

History | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

African American Heritage | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Sports | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

45 Fantastic Fights of the Century
When We Were Kings
The Superfight - Marciano vs. Ali
Champions Forever: World Heavyweight Champs!
Muhammad Ali - Through the Eyes of the World

ASIN: 078311589X
Release Date: 1999-10-05

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Introduction to Muhammad Ali!.......2006-12-14

I AGREE WITH A VIEWER!.......2006-03-18

This is the DVD to buy.......2004-07-06

"Muhammad Ali, the greatest collection"

THIS IS THE DVD TO BUY

Memories of the golden era of heavyweight boxing.......2004-02-23

Great DVD value for all fight fans.......2003-08-07

Average customer rating:

Greatest of all time
pretty good but missing
Not what I was looking for!
Poor poor Larry
Great History

The Kings of the Ring
Starring: Muhammad Ali , Louis Gossett Jr. , Rocky Marciano , and Mike Tyson
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Boxing | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

45 Fantastic Fights of the Century
Champions Forever: World Heavyweight Champs!
The Superfight - Marciano vs. Ali
Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Collection
Knockouts Classic

ASIN: 0783116780
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Amazon.com

This comprehensive HBO presentation documents the history of heavyweight boxing through the 20th century, beginning with Jess Willard's victory over Jack Johnson in the early 1900s and running through the reign of the controversial Mike Tyson. As well as being an overview of the Sweet Science, however, Kings of the Ring probes the private lives of the champs and the travails that they faced outside the ring, with special attention to the context of their times and the roles that the fighters played in reflecting and shaping society. Undoubtedly Max Baer's and Joe Louis's victories over Max Schmeling in the 1930s carried some political weight as the unwilling symbol of Nazi Germany was pummeled by both Americans. Some 30 years later, Cassius Clay's personality, brash attitude, and superior skills in the ring brought him attention. That attention turned to controversy when Clay joined the Nation of Islam, changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and was jailed for refusing to go to Vietnam. Also, no history of 20th-century heavyweight boxing would be complete without the occasional freak show, such as the Italian strongman Primo Carnera boxing with a kangaroo before being taken apart by the much smaller Max Baer. There is, of course, plenty of thrilling fight footage to go around as well, with boxers such as the wild Jack Dempsey, the remarkable Rocky Marciano, and Ali's astounding speed and footwork. Marciano's hammering of Jersey Joe Walcott in particular is worth the price of admission. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews:

Greatest of all time.......2005-01-27

This is one of the rare sports documentaries that will appeal to more than just sports fans. I saw this documantary a few years ago and was "Blown away". I'm a boxing fan but if you like excellent documentaries this is for you.

The Kings of the Ring stands along side the other great sports documentarres such as "16 Days of Glory", "Hero" and "Gol" and if you see any of these films, you will never forget them.

pretty good but missing.......2004-06-21

while it's cool to hear Louis Gossett Jr The Academy Award winner given Commentary through out this Project doesn't cover the full bases of Boxing.you have to do more.still there are rare footage here&there good coverage throughout from different Era's&Weight Classes but still something is mising from this being complete.

Not what I was looking for!.......2003-01-22

I regret buying this DVD. Actually, it wasn't what I was looking for. There was another documentary called KINGS OF THE RING which focused on the careers of Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. It was directed by Bud Greenspan, I saw it once or twice on SHOWTIME and thought it was excellent. The tribute to Joe Louis was particularly touching. What we have here is an HBO produced documentary with a similar name but with less class. Admittedly, some of the footage here is rare (the Schmeling-Baer fight, Carnera boxing a kangaroo), but it just feels like footage spliced together with bleh commentary. And poor Larry Holmes. You get to watch him get pummelled by a young Mike Tyson again. No mention of his 7 years as heavyweight champion of the world. ...

But save your [money] and wait for Showtime to air the Greenspan documentary.

Poor poor Larry.......2001-12-15

I've seen Larry Holmes interviewed in the past and at first I thought he was just a man with a massive inferiority complex but now I understand his problem. When a film such as this (which gives a fairly detailed history of the heavyweight crown) completely and uterly ignores his domination of the division for a five to eight year span, I think his complex is justified. Max Baer and Primo Carnera get five times as much attention in this movie as does holmes.

I was also expecting some kind of explanation of when and how the multiple governing bodies took precedence in the awarding of the title. After all it's something that could be discussed in narration alone without additional footage. Instead... we magically skip from Ali, who apparently has one title, to the days of Tyson and multiple titles. This is an important omition.

I understand that there is not film coverage of the absolute beginning of the heavyweight crown but I also find fault with the omission of this info...

Great History.......2001-02-03

I love KINGS OF THE RING. HBO always does a great job with boxing show and I like the Louis Gosset Jr. as the nararrator. It has a real in-depth history of the heavyweight division. From Jack Dempsey's brutal ko of Jess Willard, to Mike Tyson. It show training and fight clips, as well as clips from outside the ring. It also helps explain the signifcance of the Heavyweight title and what it meant to the world at each particualar time in history.

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