The Michigan Daily-Wednesday June 27, 1979-Page 15
ALL THAT'S LEFT IS HISTORY
It's official again: Ali retires
NEWARK, N.J. - (AP) - Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, saying
he's no longer willing "to kill myself training for 15 rounds," confirmed yesterday
that he sent a letter to the World Boxing Association resigning his title, effective
immediately.
"Everybody gets old, you can't go on like years ago," Ali said by telephone from
his Los Angeles home. The 37-year-old Ali, the only man to win the heavyweight
title three times, was talking about his Friday night exhibition in Jersey City
against Gov. Brendan Byrne and Jersey City Mayor Thomas Smith when he ad-
mitted the letter had been sent to WBA President Fernando Mandy Galindez.
"Yes, that's the truth," Ali claimed. "I'm in a position that I can go no further in
boxing. The only thing I can do to increase my popularity is to lose and win the title
back for the fourth time. But I'm too old for that.
Ali said he realizes this is the third time he has announced his retirement, but
claimed this time its official. The other two times he also called the announcemen-
ts official but this is the first time the necessary letter of resignation was sent.
"This time I'm thinking about my family, my children, the record books. I think
about how Joe Frazer feels good every time he wakes up, how George Foreman
doesn't feel good, it's a terrible thing. It's just sports, but it can ruin your life.
Every day I'm happy. Come back, for what?" said Ali, who noted that he currenfly
weighs 234 pounds.
"It's something I got to do, though I hated to do it," Ali said. "When I was 26
years old I could chew up and spit out guys like Larry Holmes, Earnie Shavers,
Gerrie Coetzee. But now I'm 37 and in a few weeks I could still whip them. But I
don't want to kill myself training for 15 rpunds."
Coetzee, who defeated former champion Leon Spinks in a stunning first-round
knockout Sunday, will take on John Tate at an unspecified date to determine the
successor to Ali's WBA crown. Holmes holds the other half of the World Boxing
council.
"I have other battles to fight," continued Ali. "I'm going to Russia in two weeks,
I'm going to talk to President Carter, I want to set up headquarters in Washington.
There are things more pleasing to do than beat up people.
"My people want me to get out," Ali said. "I'd be a fool to fight again. As of right ,
now, I'm officially retired."
t Chris cruises
AP Photo
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION Muhammed Ali, posing here before a mural of
himself used for publicity of a new TV film he'll be in, officially announced his
retirement from the ring yesterday. And this time, he means business.
FIRST ROUND WIMBLEDON ROUNDUP:
Lloyd loses, bu
By The Associated Press IVANNA MADRUGA of Argentina
WIMBLEDON, England - The run of sprang the only upset in the opening
bad luck and bad form for Chris Evert day of women's competition. She ousted
Lloyd's husband, British tennis star Sue Barker of Britain, the No. 12 seed,
John Lloyd, continued in the first round 6-3, 4-6, 8-6 after trailing in the third set.
of the men's singles at Wimbledon The American Louie sisters, Marcie
yesterday. and Peanut, had a tough day.
The 25-year-old Lloyd, dubbed the Evonne Cawley of Australia, the third
golden boy of British tennis for his good seed, outstroked the 24-year-old Marcie
looks and past success, was beaten 6-3, 6-0, 6-3. Virginia Wade, the 1977 cham-
6-4, 6-1 by Sweden's Ove Bengtson. pion who is at home on the grass of the
At the same time, his wife, the No. 2 center court, brushed aside 18-year-old
seed in the women's singles, cruised to Peanut6-0, 6-4.
a 6-4, 6-2 win over Marita Redondo in Pam Shriver, 16-year-old American
her opening match. starlet, beat Pat Medrado of Brazil 6-4,
SO CONTINUED a nightmarish 6-3. Tracy Austin, the other 16-year-old,
stretch in which Lloyd has recorded who is seeded No. 4, starts her bid Wed-
just one insignificant win in his last 20 nesday.
matches. His last victory of any con- Billie; Jean King, a veteran of 18
sequence was last October when he Wimbledons,'shook off the groin strain
beat John Alexander of Australia in the she suffered a week ago and won easily
semifinal of the Davis Cup in London. against Yvonne Vermaak of South
In other action yesterday, Jimmy Africa 6-4,6-1.
Connors and Guillermo Vilas, two of the Defending champion Martina
top challengers for Bjorn Borg's title, Navratilova, now rated No. 1 in the
won their first-round matches han- world, beat her South African opponent,
dsomely. Tanya Harford, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Connors, who led by two sets to one * * *
overnight, completed a 6-2, 6-7, 7-3, 6-3 Match rae Affi rmed
win over Jean Francois Caujolle of e ij f
France. BALTIMORE - Trainer George
VILAS PUNISHED British veteran "Buddy" Delp said yesterday that he
left-hander Roger Taylor 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to wants to see Spectacular Bid go in a
the dismay of the 17,000 fans on the cen- match race against Affirmed, but he's
ter court. . not sure who would win.
Stan Smith, another former cham- Asked if he thinks the Preakness and
pion, advanced with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 Kentucky Derby winner could win over
victory over David Carter of Australia. Affirmed, Delp said: "I don't know.
The two top seeds, defending cham- We'll run against him. It will be a nice
pion Borg and his young American rival race. I'd love to see it. But as to who'll
John McEnroe, both cleared their first win, I'll be there watching just as in-
hurdles Monday. They are to play terested as you."
second-round matches today - Borg Delp said he has challenged the Af-
against Vijay Amritraj of India and firmed camp to a match race.
McEnroe against Buster Mottram of "I SAID THAT after the Preakness,"
Britain - . . .'. . Delp-sad'Thepress-asked me about it-
and I said 'How about a million to the
loser?' I've seen heavyweight champs
take a million. Sure, I'd love to get the
most out of it."
Louis E. Wolfson, wner of Affirmed,
has indicated he would be willing to put
up thoroughbred racing's first $2
million winner against Spectacular Bid.
"I'm personally opposed to match
races," said Wolfson, whose horse won
the 1970 Triple Crown and took the
Hollywood Gold Cup Sunday to pass the
$2 million mark in career earnings.
"But some remarks that Mr. Delp
made a few weeks ago have stuck in
Laz Barrera's (Affirmed's trainer)
craw."
* * *
The Merry Mexes
PALM COAST, Fla. - Nancy Lopez
and Lee Trevino teamed yesterday to
win the $81,000 Palm Coast mixed team
world championship.
Lopez and Trevino shot a six-under-
par 66 in the match team play,
defeating the teams of Gary Player and
Laura Baugh and Ray Floiyd and Judy
Rankin, which tied for second with 70s.
TREVINO SAID the turning point
came when he and Lopez eagled the
eighth hole. Following her tee shot,
Trevino used a three-iron to hook a 220-
yard shot and Lopez sank the putt to
take the lead.
Lopez and Trevino each received
$20,000 for the victory. The other four
players received $10,500 apiece.
The tournament was part of a series
sponsored by Colgate.
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