Ten of Muhammad Ali’s former rivals pay tribute to the three-time world heavyweight champion.

Facing Ali (2009)
  • Rating: (833 votes)
  • Runtime:100 minutes
  • Director: Pete McCormack
  • Countries:USA, Canada
  • Actors:
    Himself (archive footage)
    Muhammad Ali
    Himself (archive footage) (as Oscar Bonavena)
    Ringo Bonavena
    Himself
    George Chuvalo
    Himself (as Sir Henry Cooper)
    Henry Cooper
    Himself (archive footage)
    Howard Cosell
    Himself
    George Foreman
    Himself
    Joe Frazier
    Himself
    Larry Holmes
    Himself (archive footage)
    Sonny Liston
    Himself
    Ron Lyle
  • Genres:Documentary, Sport
  • Producers:
    Ronald A. DiNicola
    producer  
    Paul Gertz
    executive producer  
    Derik Murray
    producer  
    Marcelle Pavan
    associate producer  
    Marcelle Pavan
    line producer  
    Adam Voghell
    associate producer  
  • Plot: The life and career of Muhammad Ali (1942- ) as seen chronologically in archival footage: Ali as a fighter, a personality, a political lightening rod, and a man. Boxers who fought him describe what led up to major fights and the matches themselves; they also offer personal revelations about their own lives: George Chuvalo's family losses, George Foreman's conversion, Ken Norton's gratitude, Ron Lyle's teaching, Earnie Shaver's encounter with the Klan, and Joe Frazier's good humor pack their own punch. The fighters talk about Ali's quickness, cunning, and recuperative powers - and how fighting him changed their lives. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Facing Ali
  • User's comment:A beautiful, honest film by jimbob12404

    I wasn't sure what to expect with this film. I had not heard anything about it and when I was able to get a copy I figured it would be a puff piece, but it is much much more than that. Interviews with several opponents of Muhammad Ali reveal a lot about both the interviewees themselves, and their lives, and their almost unanimous love for Ali. Footage of each fighter's bouts with Ali is plentiful and exciting, and watching it will make you cry when you realize how much he has lost over the years. Something else that will make you cry is what one of his greatest opponents--I won't say who it is---cries openly for Ali and calls him "a great guy...and I hope he gets to live the way we all live...he's earned it." This film just knocked "Tyson" out of the top spot in my best sports documentaries of the year list.


  • Also known as: Sto ring me ton Ali (Greece - DVD title),

What do you think of this movie? Leave a comment.