49 years ago
Muhammad Ali vs Richard Dunn
Date: 24th May 1976
Venue: Olympiahalle, Munich, Bayern, GermanyTitle: WBC & WBA World Heavyweight Titles
Promoter: Don King Productions
Referee: Herbert Tomser
Tv: Viewsport Closed Circuit Television
Muhammad Ali
(
51
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 220 lbs
Richard Dunn
(
33
-
9
-
0
)
Weight: 206½ lbs
On May 24, 1976, Muhammad Ali defended his WBC and WBA heavyweight titles against Richard Dunn at the Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany. Promoted by Don King Productions and broadcast globally via Viewsport Closed Circuit Television, the fight was viewed as a relatively straightforward defence for Ali as he prepared for a looming third clash with his rival Ken Norton.
Ali, entering the ring with a record of 51 wins and 2 losses, weighed in at 220 pounds. Richard Dunn, a southpaw from Yorkshire, England, stepped into the ring with a professional ledger of 33 wins and 9 losses, weighing 206½ pounds. While Dunn was game and determined, the two fighters' disparity in skill, speed, and experience was apparent from the opening bell.
The early rounds showcased Ali's superior movement, reflexes, and tactical precision. Ali danced around the slower Dunn, peppering him with jabs and occasionally landing right hands that snapped Dunn's head back. Dunn, to his credit, pressed forward and attempted to make the fight competitive, but his southpaw stance did little to trouble the experienced champion.
In the fourth round, the fight took on a more decisive tone. Ali began to sit down on his punches, exploiting gaps in Dunn's defence with sharp, clean combinations. The challenger was dropped thrice quickly during the round, each knockdown more punishing than the last. Dunn showed admirable determination in rising each time, but the writing was already on the wall.
The fifth round proved to be the end. Sensing his opponent had little left to offer, Ali delivered two more knockdowns. With Dunn visibly hurt and unable to mount any meaningful defence, referee Herbert Tomser stepped in and counted him out at 2:05 of the round. Muhammad Ali had secured another successful title defence, marking what would ultimately be the final knockout victory of his illustrious career.
In the aftermath, Ali was candid in his assessment of the fight. "He was brave, but he wasn't ready for me," Ali stated during his post-fight interview. Dunn, battered but proud, acknowledged the gulf in class and admitted that he had been outmatched by one of the sport's all-time greats.
While the fight did little to enhance Ali's legacy, it served its purpose. This relatively routine title defence kept the champion active and prepared for the challenges ahead. For Richard Dunn, the bout represented a brief brush with the upper echelons of the sport, a moment when he shared the ring with a legend.
This fight remains a historical footnote in Ali's career, significant primarily because it marked the last time he would win by knockout. It underscored his ability to dismantle an overmatched opponent with precision and flair, even as the wear and tear of a long career began to show in subtle ways.
Muhammad Ali vs Richard Dunn on YouTube
