On Dr. Ferdie Pacheco’s Fateful Decision in 1977, and Why Ali Should Have Listened
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In 1962, Dr. Ferdie Pacheco M.D. began working the corner of the rising young heavyweight Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) as his cornerman and physician with Angelo Dundee, Bundini Brown, and Wali Muhammad. Fifteen years later, in 1977, Dr. Pacheco became seriously concerned Muhammad Ali’s reflexes were slowing down, with great potential for incurring liver and kidney damage. Paheco left Ali’s corner after the Earnie Shavers fight (Ali Win 15). Ali then lost three of his last four, fighting Leon Spinks twice (Lost 15 and Win 15), Larry Holmes (Lose Referee’s Technical Decision 10), and Trevor Berbick (Lose 10). Ali also fought a ten round no decision exhibition against Lyle Alzado in Denver in 1979. Parkinson’s syndrome had set in on Ali before the Holmes fight. However, the damage may have been cumulative from Dr. Pacheco made his fateful decision to leave Ali’s camp for good.
Muhammad Ali vs. Earnie Shavers, World Heavyweight Championship, The Garden 1977
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgjbXCVNpl4 Dr. Pacheco appears ringside at 55:15
The fight doctor loves Ali and remains his friend to this day. Now 85 years old, Pacheco knew Ali like the back of his hand. Pacheco told Ali he was done. In retrospect Ali could have and should have listened. To the bitter end, Muhammad Ali was the consummate showman, and would not relinquish the public media attention and the limelight spectacle he created. Ali was ‘The Greatest’. Even mistakes of logic caused the unsinkable S.O.S. Titanic to sink. Ali’s ship was bound to sink, and did. If Pacheco had seen the handwriting on the wall, as a medical doctor he knew full well when Ali had reached the point in his career when it was time to stop. Like the captain of the Titanic, Ali knew full well not to proceed into dangerous waters when he was told to stop, but proceeded full speed ahead.
Not to judge Ali, as Muhammad Ali was is and will always be Muhammad Ali. Pacheco continued on as a television boxing analyst for NBC and Univision until the late 1990’s. Soul searching would be an understatement. Dr. Pacheco was a loyal cornerman who knew his patient and advised him well. It can safely be said in this world that many an average soul does not take his or her good doctor’s advice, and Ali, the truth be told, was surely one of them. Dr. Pacheco’s fateful decision to leave Muhammad Ali in camp and go his own way did not resolve the fact Ali was still in the ring. Dr. Ferdie Pacheco told Ali the truth, to retire, and today, can live with himself. Ali did not listen. Life is a comedy, life is a tragedy. Muhammad Ali’s eerie silence for several decades is Dr. Ferdie Pacheco’s humility, et al.
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