(FEB 6) On February 3rd, in Johannesburg, South
Africa, Laila Ali stopped Gwendolyn O’Neil in the first 56 seconds
of the first round. This was a rematch for the two. In their first
encounter, Ali stopped O’Neil in the third round. WBAN asked
boxing fans their thoughts on this rematch, after receiving some
alarming comments coming in shortly after the results were
announced. We also received an
"open Letter" from Wanda Bruce,
the manager of Laura Ramsey.
Comment:
Laila hasn't hurt boxing. She represented it well, and carried
herself well. That being said, she has underachieved in a similar
way Lucia Rijker underachieved. I can see Muhammad Ali poking fun of
the nursery rhyme "Whose afraid of the big bad Wolfe",or, "This
Robinson ain't no Sugar Ray!, etc. to hype the fight into a
megafight. Laila has a lot of her father's physical gifts, but her
top priorities may not be in boxing. If that is the case, more power
to her. She's helped the sport, but not as much as she could have.
Rick S, Wilmington, DE
Comment:
It troubles me to see all the negative comments about Laila Ali. I
personally believe she is the best woman boxer in the world, period,
and doesn't deserve to be thrown under the bus. She took on and
stopped the best fighters out there before anyone knew the names
Ragosina, Ramsey or Leaticia Robinson. (Ann Wolfe has been around
for several years). That being said, if Laila retires now without
fighting at least one or two of the afore mentioned fighters, if not
all, it would be a big disappointment for all but it would make a
heck of a debate as to who the best is. Laila is choosing her
family over her job, wouldn't any of you? I hope so. Laila, if you
read this, please finish out this year and fight somebody who's got
a chance (on paper.. I think you'll knock them all out anyway).
Please don't go out like this. Joseph N.
Comment:
I WAS a Laila fan until I noticed there always seemed
to be a reason for not fighting Ann Wolfe or she would make the
decision that Vonda ward or Leticia Robinson was not ready to
fight her yet she fights Erin Toughill or Ms. O'Neil who has
less experience. I think Ann Wolfe, Laura Ramsey, Leticia
Robinson, and all other potential opponent should come
to-get-her (together) and call shows like The Best Damn Sports
Show or Frankly Talking with Steven A Smith and ask if they all
can come on and show that she ducks fighters that could possibly
give her that ONE loss. Anthony Warren
Comment:
Truly not much of a fight worth considering to watch if the option
was available. That's just fact and sound. Everyone who follows
women boxing desire match ups that involve the following from the
middleweight-light heavyweight division: Laila Ali, Ann Wolfe,
Natascha Ragosina, Laura Ramsey, and Leatitia Robinson. We do not
need to see O'Neill or Monica Nunez fight anymore. Their skill
levels are not considered as probable challenges to the ones
mentioned here. Now, many have already commented that Laila Ali is
hurting women's boxing. She's not the only one. Most of the
fighters talk and talk, and never get their hands to do the actual
work to begin with. No one is willing to fight each other because
of a rep or a paycheck. Women's boxing still cannot be taken
seriously because the real contenders continue to avoid each other.
Only fights we see are those where one fighter is inexperienced,
only to get a paycheck and be on television. To each boxer and
their managers: Stop talking. No one cares if so and so hasn't
signed a dotted line, or won't agree to certain terms. Really,
unless you or your management team is going to declare a set date
for a real fight, no one
wants to hear your crap. R.S.
Comment:
I really can't see how a majority of comments concerning Ali
could be anything other than unanimous... that, for the most
part, Ali is, predictable and disappointing. It is pretty clear
that the general attitude of the fans that know the well
disquised truth surrounding Ali is..."who cares". It is time
for Ali's fans to "wise up" and admit to themselves that Ali has
basically, let women's boxing down in a tremendous way. The sad
thing is that she has tens of thousands of people in the general
public convinced that she is a "chip off the old block" and Ali
willingly adds to that false notion every time she opens her
mouth. I also don't believe that Ali's "cake walk" choice of
opponents is entirely a management decision. As long as Ali is
able to snowball the public and walk among the rich and famous,
it will most likely be her decision alone not to put herself in
any sort of position that would compromise her undeserving
status of windfall stardom. Not only will the true followers of
women's boxing never know what might have been but Ali, as well,
will never know and I think she is just fine with that. Bill
Whaley
Comment:
Laila Ali has the serious problem many insecure boxers have. She is
simply afraid to lose. She fears it to the extreme. Her dad became
known as a great fighter because he had the courage to fight Joe
Frazier three times and the likes of Ken Norton, George Foreman and
other great fighters. These boxers proved he was a great fighter. A
record means nothing. It is who you fight that counts. That is how
her father proved he was great. Laila obviously doesn't believe in
herself and unless she is willing to fight some one tough she will
hurt women's boxing not help it. I don't think she really cares. She
will never prove anything if she continues to run from good boxers.
I would like for her to show some guts. O.P.D.
Comment:
I would just like to say that the verbal attacks against Laila Ali
are ridiculous, unfounded, and should come to an end. I understand
that it is perfectly normal for fighters to go after the
legitimately recognized champion of any weight division. With that
said, I have had enough with the open-season verbal abuse that has
been welcomed and fed into by so many people. Ms. Ali is one person
and she is NOT responsible for how your career evolves. That is the
most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. Make your own name in this
business and stop blaming her for the unsuccessfulness of your
career. If you are going to continue to go after her at least state
some facts in your argument. Simply thinking that you are good or
the best and Ms. Ali has not been challenged… simply isn’t a valid
argument. I realize it is very difficult for some people to respect
each other. I am not one of those people. Ms. Ali has rightfully
earned and continues to defend her title. Respect that! Thank you
for your time, Demi “Hard 2 Handle” Nguyen
Comment:
To me Laila Ali should hang her head in disgrace. She's nothing more
than an average schoolyard bully. She only wants to take out
fighters she knows she can beat and reap the financial rewards as if
she's shaking them down for their lunch money. My opinion may seem
harsh but I believe a lot of others would agree that when she opens
her mouth she gives the sport another black eye. In a perfect world
Laila Ali would be required to fight the top contenders and stop
flappin' that jaw unless she has proven she can back up the yap. If
she wants to have kids some day she should spare them the
embarrassment of going to school to face other kids who know that
"Momma Ali" may have been a fighter but she was also a coward. She
flaps her yap trying to be her father but she lacks one thing... she
didn't inherit his charisma and personality. Without those two she's
just a big mouth who is running from anyone who could silence her
bragging. Richard A. Wright
Comment:
Laila is the total package: Great competitor, Beautiful Lady,
and an interesting personality outside of boxing. Laila put
your hater blocker shades on my friend, because you don't need
to see all the haters on this site. Peace -Ron
Comment:
So many female boxing fans thought that when Ali, Foreman and
Frazier entered the women's ranks that this would put the sport on a
new stage in sport. It failed to materialize with those three.
Foreman and Frazier are no where on the scene and Laila walks around
talking about how good she is fighting less than competitive
opponents on her dance card. The real warriors do their talking in
the ring four or more times per year. Hello Holly Holm, Layla
McCarter, Kelsey Jefferies and Holly Dunaway. Laila: leave boxing
if you will, but know you talk as good a game as your dad, but the
difference is he fought the best. Have you? It's only because of
Laila Ali that people actually know that women's boxing exists.
Also, for those of you who say that she is just fighting for just
money, it's called "Prize" fighting for a reason people! Fighters
fight to make money period. Legacy and fame come second. Obviously
there is a market and monetary support for the fights she chooses,
or else she would not continue to do them. Bob M
Comment:
Is there anything lower than dishonoring your family name? Ms. Ali
has taken the legacy that her father created when on countless
occasions he fought the _best_ fighters_ in the world and used it to
get paid. I'm not against a person getting some money but Ms. Ali
has undoubtedly made more money mooching off her father's name in
endorsements than in actual fights. I would argue that she would
make even more endorsement money if she fought opponents of worth
and defeated them. However, there is no real earned pride with Ms.
Ali which makes it so sad. She could really put women's boxing on
another level if she only had a bit of courage. Risk losing a fight
against an equally skilled opponent... Show some backbone.
Otherwise, Ms. Ali, when sports historians and the world looks back
at you they will have the same general consensus: What a waste of
talent. She is yet another reason the sport of women's boxing faded
away. So sad the Ali name has lost some luster. K.H.
Comment:
Ali vs O'Neil a waste of time. It is long overdue that Ali fights a
credible opponent. All her talk about no one wants to fight her,
their is no out there to fight her blahblahblah....Tiana
S.S.-Port of Spain-Trinidad and Tobago
Comment:
For a boxer to seek out a rematch with a journeyman boxer she
KO'ed the first time out while ducking legitimate contenders is
a disgrace to the sport in general, and dishonors Muhammad Ali,
who fought everyone.
Comment:
What a shocker a first round TKO, who woulda thought? Ali has
got to be kidding. When I read her statements they sound like a
World Wide Wrestling show. I am the Champ, there is no one left
to fight, I am the greatest ,cus I say so. PURE HOLLYWOOD.
Nick R.
Comment:
I think the O'Neil fight was a joke too. If she beat her once
already why fight her again. Why don't Ali fight somebody like
Laura who wants to fight her instead of taking these easy fights.
As a fan of female boxing I think these girls like Laura who have
worked and earn their rights to fight should be given the
opportunity to fight for the title. I think Laila is scared
she might lose her perfect record why she won't fight the likes of
Laura or Anne Wolfe. Maybe WBAN should pressure these
champions to fight the number 1-4 top females in their weight class
in stead of 10 -15 who can't fight. Laila Ali you're nothing
like your father he was willing to fight the best in his weight
class. You are just living off his name. Jeff Roberts - Wisconsin
Comment:
Would Gwendolyn O'Neil and her people be complaining if she had won?
If it was not enough time to training for someone you have already
lost too don't sign the contract. If Laila wants to get the true
respect she deserves she and people need to stop playing hardball in
negotiations.
Then the Ann Wolfes and Leticia Robinsons will step up. But O'Neil
got her butt whipped twice by Laila she should move on.
Comment:
I absolutely agree with Ramsey's manager. It's nearly
scandalous how Laila Ali has been running away from real challenges
in the past two years. On the other side the choice of her opponents
was really ridiculous. I mean names
like O'Neil, Burton, Toughill - Please, that was a dishonor to
women's boxing as worst as it could be. Even with Asa Sandell a very
inexperienced fighter, Ali had a lot of problems. Now it's
definitely the time for her to take the real challenges or retire
now with a perfect record but without the
permission to say: "I'm the best of all time". Boxingfan from
Europe.
Do YOU have a comment about the
latest Ali-ONeil rematch, if so, email
WBAN and we will post the comments.
