Beschreibung:

MUHAMMAD ALI TEN PAGE HANDWRITTEN SPEECH A significant ten-page handwritten speech written by Muhammad Ali for a public appearance pleading for a rematch with Leon Spinks after losing his title to him in Las Vegas on February 15,1978. Ali read this speech on Saturday, March 4, 1978 in a nationally televised news conference on CBS - TV. Under contracts signed with the World Boxing Council, Ali and Spinks were both committed to giving Ken Norton the first chance for a title fight. In the speech, which is written in blue ink on lined paper, Ali refers to the tradition that the ex-champion is usually first to have the chance to regain his title . Citing previous rematches involving Tunney, Dempsey, Johannson, Patterson and Ali's own against Sonny Liston, Ali makes the case that he is the most deserving of an immediate rematch. Spinks took Ali's challenge and on September 15, 1978, Ali defeated Spinks to become the first man in history to win the Heavyweight Championship three times. Together with newspaper articles about the speech from The New York Times and New York Post . This speech helped rouse public support in getting Ali his rematch. (10)