So underwhelmed by the threat of Spain-based Uruguayan Alfredo Evangelista, Muhammad Ali boxed two exhibitions, against Michael Dokes and Jody Ballard, one month before this 15-rounder. Evangelista, good at European level but lacking in world class, had lost his previous bout – an eight-rounder to Lorenzo Zanon – before managing to take the aging Ali the distance, losing widely. Somehow, he would secure another undeserved shot, only to be stopped by Larry Holmes, the following year.
