The old challenger's comeback is foiled by the young champ
It was supposed to be Muhammad All's last hurrah, a final comeback to reclaim, at age 38, the heavyweight championship title he had won an unprecedented three separate times over two decades. It was, instead, a sad farewell. Too old, too slow, too punched-out, Ali was pummeled by Defending Champion Larry Holmes for ten long, painful rounds. Finally, Ali sat slumped on his stool in the corner while his handlers told the referee that he would not answer the bell for the eleventh round.
Ali had striven mightily to turn back the clock,...