This Ali Fight Is the Greatest of Mockeries

It was the greatest farce of all time.

It was enough to spur a movement to ban women’s boxing.

Actually, it was enough to spur a movement to ban boxing in general.

Laila Ali, daughter of three-time heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, might be able to fight, but there was no way to tell from Thursday night’s sham at the Universal Amphitheatre in front of an announced crowd of 3,845.

Her opponent was a 48-year-old named Marjorie Jones, who fought like one would expect a 48-year-old to fight.

Some of the greatest heavyweights of a bygone era were on hand, with Ali joined by Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. They all had to be embarrassed by what they saw.

The biggest upset of the night was that the fight lasted a full one minute and eight seconds.

That’s how long it took Laila to knock Jones down three times, on the third occasion with a right hand that caused referee James Jen-Kin to end the fight.

Was Jones, whose style consisted of taking wild swings several feet above Ali’s head, too inept to even be allowed in the ring.

“They all feel that way to me,” said Ali, who improved to 7-0 with seven knockouts. “I would have liked for it to have lasted a little longer. I didn’t even break a sweat.”

Jones was a late substitute for Ali’s originally scheduled opponent, Jeanine Tracey, who couldn’t agree on money with the promoters.

So she stepped aside and Jones, the mother of Tracey’s boyfriend, stepped in.

Jones only began fighting two years ago. Hopefully she’ll stop after Thursday’s performance. Her record falls to 2-5-1 with two knockouts.

Imagine the two opponents she beat.

Also on Thursday’s card, Oba Carr, hoping to get a title shot at World Boxing Assn., welterweight champion James Page, seemed out of sync in a preliminary bout against Juan Soberanes of Mexico, but still managed to win a unanimous decision.

Judges Marty Denkin and Raul Caiz, Sr., both had Carr winning 100-89. Jen-Kin scored it 99-90.

In improving to 51-3-1 with 30 knockouts, Carr put Soberanes (44-25-2, 32 knockouts) on the canvas with a short right hand in the fifth round, the only knockdown of the fight.

“I couldn’t get my rhythm,” Carr said. “I couldn’t get a feel for the fight.”

Carr has made a career of being a solid, perennial contender, losing only to the world’s best fighters.

But, he has not been able to reach the top tier. Carr got a shot at the International Boxing Federation title, but was knocked out by Felix Trinidad in the eighth round. Carr got a shot at the WBA championship, but lost a decision to Ike Quartey. Carr got a shot at the World Boxing Council crown, but was knocked out by Oscar De La Hoya in the 11th round.

But, Carr still sees a route to a title.

“I want James Page,” he said, “and then the sky’s the limit.”

And, in the semi-main event, Carlos Navarro (22-1, 17 knockouts) defended his International Boxing Assn. Continental junior-lightweight championship by knocking out Nestor Lopez (19-7-2, 15) at 2:19 of the ninth round.