Nov. 20, 1964 - Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight champion, said today he expected his return title bout with the challenger, Sonny Liston, to be held in six months.
In his first meeting with newsmen since he underwent an emergency hernia operation one week ago, Ali said, “I think the fight should come off in six months. But I haven’t talked to the doctor yet about this, and it will be up to him.”
The champion was wheeled into Dowling Amphitheater at Boston City Hospital by his handlers, accompanied by his wife, Sonji. The news conference was limited to 10 minutes by Dr. William V. McDermott Jr., head of the surgical team that operated on Ali.
The operation was performed three nights before the scheduled Nov. 16 title fight at Boston Garden.
McDermott said that Ali would remain in the hospital for another week before flying to Chicago to continue his recuperation. He said Ali’s rate of recovery was excellent.
Ali, dressed in a red bathrobe and black pajamas, admitted that “I am quiet for once.”
Talking softly, he expressed regret at the cancellation of the fight and called it “an act of God.”
“The fight cancellation hurt me more than the pain,” he said. “I was really in the best shape of my life, as was Sonny Liston. Now all that work has gone down the drain.
“Everything was set up. Now I have to sit back for another six months. It was such a letdown for me and for Sonny. All that work for a man of his age,” Ali said.
Ali said he had lost about 14 pounds since his operation and placed his weight at about 200 pounds.
McDermott re‐emphasized the serious nature of the operation. “This was an acute surgical emergency. Mr. Ali was not in immediate danger, but if we let it go for 8 or 10 hours there was a definite risk of intestinal strangulation, and that would have been bad.”
When asked about Ali’s return to heavy workouts, the surgeon said, “For the first month, his activity will be restricted. The next two months, he can engage in normal activities. After three months, which would make it in mid-February, we should be able to turn him loose for heavy workouts.
“However, the fight conditioning of a boxer is something I know nothing about. That is up to his trainer,” he said.
Ali said, “When I get the O.K., I will be coming right back here to Boston to get into the gym. I am anxious to get back in training. I owe it to everyone — my sparring partners, my handlers, and the promoters.”
Ali thanked McDermott and the staff “of the best hospital in the whole world.”
Of McDermott, Ali said: “Anyone who can cut me open and then put me to sleep must be good.”
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comments