"Fight Doctor" Ferdie Pacheco, Ali's Ringside Physician, Dead At 89

Fernando "Ferdie" Pacheco, "The Fight Doctor" who served as Muhammad Ali's ringside physician, died Thursday morning at his Miami home. He was 89.

Pacheco opened a practice in Miami after earning a medical degree from the University of Miami. 

He met Cassius Clay, who would later become Muhammad Ali, in 1960 when the fighter began training at the 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach.

Pacheco worked as Ali's cornerman from 1962-1977, which included three successful title bouts. Pacheco has said he left his position after suggesting Ali retire because of serious injuries. Ali fought four more matches, losing three.

Pacheco would later say that he told Ali he would stick around if he fought boxers who couldn't hurt him, but Shavers was known as a vicious puncher and he feared for Ali's safety.


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