s for the bout were signed. While the fighters engaged in prefight hoopla, the controversy over Ali's health was getting bigger. Ali was speaking softer and slower, and his reflexes were going down. But despite this, the Nevada State Athletic Commission granted him a boxing license. On October 2, 1980, twenty years after his very first fight against Tunney Hunsaker, Ali stepped into the ring, weighing in at 217 pounds. It was a one-sided bout from the beginning, with the younger Holmes taking advantage of his mentor. After ten rounds of witnessing "an autopsy on a man who's still alive" (Sylvester Stallone), Ali's corner threw in the towel. The fight was over (Tyers,66).With his health deteriorating rapidly, somehow Ali had his mind set on fighting one more match. Ali was determined to retire from boxing as a winner, and his opponent was Trevor Berbick. Ali entered the ring for the final time on December 11, 1981 (Jet). The bout started two hours late, there were only two pairs of gloves for the entire under card, and a cowbell was used for the ring bell. From the start, the actual fight was a drag, with Ali looking sluggish while his mediocre opponent showed little skill. When it all was over, the judges scored the bout in Berbick's favor (Hauser,77). The next morning, Ali finally announced that he was leaving the boxing ring for good....
