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Muhammad Ali vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman

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Muhammad Ali vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman
On site programme
DateFebruary 20, 1976
VenueRoberto Clemente Coliseum, Oriente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Title(s) on the lineWBA, WBC and The Ring undisputed heavyweight championship
Tale of the tape
Boxer United States Muhammad Ali Belgium Jean-Pierre Coopman
Nickname "The Greatest" "The Lion of Flanders"
Hometown Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. Ingelmunster, West Flanders, Belgium
Pre-fight record 49–2 (35 KO) 24–3 (13 KO)
Age 34 years, 1 month 29 years, 7 months
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 5 ft 11+12 in (182 cm)
Weight 226 lb (103 kg) 206 lb (93 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBA, WBC and The Ring undisputed
Heavyweight Champion
Result
Ali won via fifth round KO (2:46)

Muhammad Ali vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman was a professional boxing match contested on February 20, 1976, for the undisputed heavyweight championship.[1] Ali won the fight after knocking out Coopman in the fifth round.

Background

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This was Ali's first boxing bout after Thrilla in Manila, and fifth title defense since 1974.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

The bout took place in Puerto Rico at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum and was televised in the United States live on CBS to an audience of over 40 million viewers.

The fight

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In the ring during the introduction, Coopman smiled easily while Ali stared at him. In his orange robe with a small black lion over the left breast, Coopman sat on the stool in his corner and appeared to enjoy Ali's attempted psych. But when the bell rang for the first round, the Belgian stopped smiling.

Ali had a 20-pound advantage in weight at 226 over 206 and a five-inch advantage in reach, in addition to his advantage in skill and experience. In the first round, he coughed twice midway through the round, then coughed up his mouthpiece near the end of the round. Ali was recovering from a recent battle with the flu.[citation needed]

Through four rounds, Ali was fighting in a flatfoot stance, peppering Coopman with flurries of punches. In the fifth, the champion started to dance, circling to his left, then to his right, and confusing Coopman with backhand jabs. Then Ali threw a big uppercut.

With a combination of punches, culminated by a right uppercut, the 29-year-old challenger toppled into the ropes. Trying to regain his equilibrium, Coopman wobbled back into the canvas in an apparent delayed reaction from the punch. Coopman was counted out by referee Ismael Quinones-Falu at 2 minutes 46 seconds. The referee and the two judges, Ismael Fernandez and Roberto Ranirez, each had rewarded Ali a 10–9 advantage in points in each of the first four rounds.

Moments later, Coopman was dragged to his corner, with Ali helping.

Aftermath

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About 20 minutes after the bout, Ali appeared in the interview area, dressed and relaxed. This was the first, and to date only, world heavyweight championship bout ever held in Puerto Rico.

In an interview, Coopman denied claims that he had been drinking champagne before the fight, but confirmed that he had drunk some champagne during the fight to help him move faster and to feel euphoric.[8]

Undercard

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Confirmed bouts:[9]

Winner Loser Weight division/title belt(s) disputed Result
Puerto Rico Alfredo Escalera Dominican Republic José Fernandez WBC World Super Featherweight Title 13th round TKO.
United States Jimmy Young Puerto Rico José Roman Heavyweight (10 rounds) Unanimous decision.
Puerto Rico Wilfredo Gómez Jamaica Cornell Hall Middleweight (10 rounds) 3rd round KO.
Puerto Rico Ossie Ocasio United States Virgin Islands Lorenzo Simons Unknown 3rd round KO.

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
 Australia Seven Network
 Brazil Band
 Canada CTV
 France TF1
 Germany ARD
 Japan TBS
 Mexico Televisa
 Philippines RPN 9
 Spain TVE
 United Kingdom BBC
 United States CBS

References

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  1. ^ "Muhammad Ali vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Muhammad Ali's ring record". ESPN. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Muhammad Ali's road show rolls on: A one-nighter in San Juan". Sports Illustrated. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Flemish boxer pays tribute to Muhammed Ali". Flanders News. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  5. ^ Stephen Brunt (2002). Facing Ali. The Lyons Press. pp. 251–61.
  6. ^ Felix Dennis; Don Atyeo (2003). Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years. miramax books. pp. 244–46.
  7. ^ Thomas Hauser (1991). Muhammad Ali:His Life and Times. Simon & Schuster. pp. 329–32. ISBN 978-0-671-68892-9.
  8. ^ Stephen Brunt (2002). Facing Ali. The Lyons Press. p. 257.
  9. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Muhammad Ali's bouts
20 February 1976
Succeeded by
Preceded by
vs. Lisimo Obutobe
Jean-Pierre Coopman's bouts
20 February 1976
Succeeded by
vs. Ba Sounkalo