RCM Historical Boxing: Muhammad Ali versus Hockey Player Dave Semenko on June 12, 1983

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 Six thousand fans of both hockey and boxing were present on June 12, 1983, in Edmonton, Canada, for a bizarre Ripley’s Believe It or Not style three-round exhibition between Muhammad Ali, age 41 and wearing a tracksuit. And Edmonton Oilers hockey player Dave Semenko, which ended in an exhibition draw.

 Ali claimed the exhibition was not for the money because “You couldn’t afford to pay me” for an exhibition such as this. A seven minutes video of the bout still exists on some internet sources. Ali danced his famed Ali shuffle for most of the bout, and his legs appeared surprisingly good, much better than they seemed in his 10-round loss to Trevor Berbick in the Bahamas in January 1982.

 The exhibition was weird, it was strange, and it was what it was in the era before Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Conor McGregor. Ali, to the bitter end, was a circus showman who came across as something between P.T. Barnum and Robert Ripley. However, on this occasion, Ali was gentle and soft spoken with everyone, and it was not until the final minute of the exhibition Ali let loose, jabbing away on Semenko and bloodying him. Oilers hockey player Mark Messier’s uncle Larry Messier promoted the event. Ali did get paid, and with the Survivor theme ‘Eye of the Tiger’ playing on the event loudspeaker, the two combatants did their crossover thing. Ali versus Semenko was weird, but boxing is most interesting when the combatants are a bit off the wall and sell the event with wild publicity.

 Probably Ali versus Semenko, the final bout of Ali’s career, was his most obscure ring appearance. It was also Ali’s only pro level bout to have taken place in Canada. As weird as Rocky Balboa versus Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Ali versus Semenko is long forgotten, but it remains a long long treasure as part of Ali’s story, his final ring appearance.







Follow Real Combat Media on Instagram

Follow Real Combat Media on Facebook

Follow Real Combat Media on Twitter

Support Real Combat Media Foundation

Shop at Real Combat Media Fight Store

Share

COMMENTS

COMMENTS