Boxing

The vital lesson Usyk and Fury should learn from Muhammad Ali's 'crazy' last ever fight

DAZN Staff

DAZN

Usyk vs. Fury 2 live Dec 21 on DAZN PPV - BUY NOW

As Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury prepare for what should be an epic rematch on Saturday December 21, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View with no subscription required, depending on who loses, post-fight the two gladiators could take some warnings from 'The Greatest' Muhammad Ali's last ever fight.

First there was the Rumble in the Jungle and then there was the Thrilla in Manilla - both were legendary fights featuring the legend Ali.

But there was another Ali fight with a cute rhyming name, and it is that fight that took place on this day in history back in 1981, one that proved too much for the aging great.

DAZN News travel back in time to remember the events surrounding Ali's last ever fight, The Drama in Bahama, which took place in Nassau on December 11, 1981.

Background to the fight

By 1981, Muhammad Ali’s storied career was in its twilight. The former three-time heavyweight champion had retired in 1979 but made a comeback in 1980 to challenge Larry Holmes for the WBC title.

That fight ended in heartbreak for fans, as Holmes dominated Ali, who was visibly far from his prime.

Despite the loss and concerns over his health, Ali decided to fight one more time.

The Drama in Bahama was set up as a farewell bout, a chance for the aging legend to end his career on a high note.

ali-foreman-rumbleinjungle-getty-ftr (Getty Images)

Who was Trevor Berbick?

While Ali was the aging legend, Trevor Berbick was a rising heavyweight who represented a younger generation of fighters eager to make a name for themselves.

Berbick was a Jamaican-born heavyweight with a solid professional record and a reputation for his toughness in the ring.

At 27-years-old, he was 12 years younger than Ali and had already faced top contenders like Larry Holmes, though he lost that fight.

Berbick was known for his rugged style, powerful punches, and unyielding determination. For him, the fight with Ali was not just about winning; it was an opportunity to claim the scalp of a legend and boost his own career.

He would later go on to become the WBC heavyweight champion before famously being Mike Tyson’s opponent in 1986, when Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.

Why Nassau?

The Bahamas was an unconventional choice for a fight of this magnitude. The location was primarily chosen due to financial difficulties and logistical challenges.

Critically no American state would grant Ali a boxing license after his performance in the match with Larry Holmes.

It also lent itself to a catchy rhyming name, invoking some of the glory fights of the past (although that was more an added benefit than an actual consideration).

Nassau came with its own set of problems. The facilities were subpar, and the promotion lacked the glitz and glamour usually associated with Ali’s fights.

The local infrastructure strained to accommodate the event, leading to a chaotic atmosphere in the build up to fight night.

Don King gets a beating

In an odd twist of events, legendary boxing promoter Don King, who had no involvement in organising the fight, made an appearance in Nassau.

He was not working with Ali, but he had signed Berbick to a three-fight deal and he duly presented himself in person to claim his share of the profits.

This led to a physical altercation with Ali’s promoter, James Cornelius.

King was allegedly beaten by a couple of Cornelius' henchmen and Cornelius himself with the latter reportedly punching King in the face - it was an altercation that added an extra layer of drama to the already bizarre circumstances which surrounded the fight.

The incident made headlines, overshadowing much of the pre-fight buildup.

The actual fight

The fight itself was far from Ali’s glory days. At 39-years-old, Ali lacked the speed, reflexes, and endurance that had made him "The Greatest." Berbick dominated most of the fight, using his superior conditioning and aggression to control the pace.

While Ali displayed glimpses of his famed resilience and showmanship, it was clear that his time in the ring had passed.

Berbick won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds, marking the first, and last time, Ali lost a non-title bout.

Ali calls time on his boxing career

Following the loss, Muhammad Ali officially announced his retirement from boxing.

The Drama in Bahama marked the end of a legendary career that had spanned over two decades and included battles with icons like Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Sonny Liston.

Though the fight wasn’t a fitting conclusion for a man of Ali’s stature, it afforded him the opportunity to come to terms with his own aging.

Speaking after the fight the ever-eloquent Ali was a man in a good place: "I think I'm too old. I was slow. I was weak. Nothing but Father Time. The things I wanted to do, I couldn't do," he said.

"I was doing my best. I did good for a 39-year-old. I think I'm finished. I know it's the end. I'm not crazy. After Holmes, I had excuses. I was too light. Didn't breathe right. No excuses this time. I'm happy. I'm still pretty. I could have a black eye. Broken teeth.

Split lips. I think I came out all right for an old man."

Usyk and Fury are already generational greats, if not all-time heavyweight greats. Like Ali, nothing will change that. But there is a lesson to be had to know when to stop chasing the dream.

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