The greatest boxing match that never happened!

Can you imagine possibly the greatest boxer of all time stepping into the ring against the giant and then #1 in the NBA, Wilt Chamberlain? Two of the biggest stars in the US in the 70s against each other, trading heavy blows over the course of a few rounds?

It may sound absurd, but in fact such a "demonstration" fight was very, very close to being realized, and there was a huge interest on the part of the two athletes to measure forces. At first glance, it seems absurd because one is the best at boss while the other is a basketball player, but there was serious logic for both sides to want this to happen.

In 1971, Muhammad Ali had just returned to the ring and was not in top condition. Wilt, on the other hand, is at the height of his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Layers, but is still in top form at the age of 34. In addition, the center in the NBA has had one serious advantage - height. He is 216 centimeters tall compared to Ali's "only" 191. In itself, this fact makes such a clash very interesting.

It gets to the point where a TV event is even organized, during which the two endorse the idea and rain down threats about who will do what to the other. Ali "wins" the threat game, however, after yelling "Timber, timber" in Wilt's face several times (note Ed - the word lumberjacks call when a tree falls).

This was considered one of the main reasons for the failure of this fight. But there are other guesses as to why the two never get in the ring against each other at all. One of the main ones is that it is unprofitable for both parties. Ali's lawyers are adamant that, given his form and the insufficiently high bid for such a fight, it is not worth it for him to risk his reputation against a boxer. For Chamberlain, the positives are far less than the negatives he can bear.

Another version is that the then owner of the Los Angeles Lakers offered him an improved contract, the only condition being that he abandon the idea of fighting Muhammad Ali.

What the real truth is we may never know, but this is perhaps the greatest boxing match that never took place!