Ali vs Frazier III 1975 - Open scoring thread

[Robinson]

This is the open scoring thread for the third fight between Ali and Frazier.

Thrilla in Manilla begins soon....

Lets have your scores round per round and see how YOU had the fight
before the stoppage.

[Robinson]

Round 1-
Frazier stays at distance early coming in occasionally only to go under
most of Ali's flurries. Frazier gets to the body half way through, but Ali
lands the most shots. Ali puts it on towards the end of the round.

Ali 10-9

Round 2-
Frazier stabs some jabs to Ali's belly, ali is warned for grabbing the back
of the head. Frazier walks in and Ali backs up, half way in Ali times some
right hands well and then applies more pressure with his shots. When Ali
gets his back on the ropes, Frazier puts leather into Ali's body well. Ali
scores some rangey left hooks, while Frazier bores in and tries for the body.

Ali 10-9

Round 3-
Round starts with Frazier looking to hit the body despite Ali holding his left
hand out stretched. The left hook and left up punch is the blow that is
landing the most effective on Frazier thrown by Ali. Frazier bangs the body
hard when Ali is on the ropes. Ali gives almost away the round by laying on the
ropes, though bloxking most he is hit alot in the body, Ali spurts well towards
the end and puts Frazier on the ropes. Hard round to judge, I give it to Ali
despite Frazier's work while Ali was on the ropes.

Ali10-9

[Darling]

Prefight

Ali was in fine form, stealing the trophy from centre ring and pretending to cry when some boos rang out during the intro.

This sort of stuff makes the haters hate, But it's all done tongue in cheek.

[Darling]

Round 1

Frazier coming forward but Ali can't miss him with the simple basic 1-2. Some are glancing blows but 2 or 3 are really solid shots with Ali's weight behind them. Frazier had a big grin on his face at the start of the round. He aint grinning now.

Ali's round : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 2

Frazier busier and getting in some body shots that we know with hindsight will pay dividends later on.

However it's Ali who is getting in the head shots including three decent right hands, one of which in particular seemed to get Frazier's attention.

Ali : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 3

Hard round to score. Frazier is finding his rhythm but his head is still there for Ali's shots. But Ali wasted the middle minute engaging in one of his episodes of covering up on the ropes, taking big whacks downstairs, while delivering a sermon to his opponent. What a guy!

Then he tried to catch Frazier by exploding out in the last 30 seconds. But Joe looks to have settled now and even seemed to get in the better punch of the exchange.

Frazier : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 4

Ali's fairly basic punching still can't miss Frazier, even getting thru with 3 punch combinations on a couple of occasions. Joe is moving up through the gears now but fekk he'd be better off if he blocked a few with something other than his head, Still, it's a fast pace for Ali and he's gonna slow down and those two massive but wild left hooks he easily evaded might start to land...

Ali : 10 - 9

[Robinson]

I have no idea what an Opening scoring thread is... ha so I just changed it...

I found the 3rd round a hard one to score. Ali landed some nice left hooks and
outside blows and then at on them damned ropes and let Frazier thump those
hard shots into him for awhile... only to rally towards the end and spin Frazier..
was a hard one.

Ill get some more rounds up soon.

[Darling]

Round 5

Good action. Frazier now getting the left hook in upstairs as well as down.

Frazier : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 6

Joe in control this round. Ali still landing but all the hard stuff coming from Frazier, including a couple of lovely left hooks to the chin!

Frazier : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 7

Hard round to score. Ali decided to get up on his toes and try to stick and move, with some success. But Frazier was still able to force him to the ropes and give it to him on occasion. Depended what you liked best. I liked both.

Even : 10 - 10

[Darling]

Round 8

Toe-to-toe war for the full 3 minutes! Hard to score. Thought Ali did the most damage though Frazier was dominant as the round ended.

Ali : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 9

Another good round. This time I thought Frazier was the more effective. However, these rounds are close.

This must have been a great fight to watch "live".

Frazier : 10 - 9

[alexpaterson]

Ali -10 10 9 10 9 9 10 9 10 9 10 10 10 10-135
Frazier-9 9 10 9 10 10 9 10 9 10 9 9 9 9 -131

I had Ali fairly comfy

[Darling]

Round 10

Ali getting some good leverage on his punches; Joe's eating some leather. I got the feeling in this round that something had gone out of Frazier's punches; they did not seem to be troubling Ali as much as earlier. Could be wrong...

Ali : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 11

Great round. The momentum swung back and forth. I thought Ali just nicked it.

Ali : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 12

Similar in some ways to big chunks of the Hagler - Leonard fight with one guy pressing forward trying to impose himself but getting counter punched severely.

Ali : 10 - 9

[GranberryReturns]

The treacherous and traitorous Eddie Futch stopped the fight because Joe was about to knock Ali out. Only the clueless don't know that.

[BoxBuzz]

The treacherous and traitorous Eddie Futch stopped the fight because Joe was about to knock Ali out. Only the clueless don't know that.

yep, that was just about to unfold, when in the last reel of the film, the villian's minion (freshly bribed, fully secretive with no history of allegiance, thus making it the perfect betrayal scenario) steps in to save the day!

Oliver Stone is working on the screenplay.

[Darling]

Round 13

Big round for Ali. Frazier brave as always but getting bashed around now.

Ali : 10 - 9

[Darling]

Round 14

Frazier forcing himself forward but all he gets for his trouble is a severe battering. It's obvious he doesn't have the power left at this stage to hurt Ali even if he could land.

Ali : 10 - 9

[Darling]

The End

The fight was, in my opinion, correctly stopped by Frazier's corner. Joe was way behind, had no chance of stopping Ali and was shipping very heavy punishment. Only a sadist would have wanted to see another three minutes of brave Joe being outclassed in every area except courage.

Nothing like the fairy story granberry told. Sorry.

[BoxBuzz]

Mercy round 9 seemed to be pure trench warfare on both fighters part.

[Darling]

Mercy round 9 seemed to be pure trench warfare on both fighters part.

Yes, very enjoyable part of the fight.

[Robinson]

Sorry i am behind...

Round 4. Ali 10-9
Round 5. Frazier 10-9
Round 6. Frazier 10-9
Round 7. Frazier 10-9
Round 8. Frazier 10-9 (close could have scored as even)
Round 9. Frazier 10-9
Round 10. Ali 10-9
Round 11. Ali 10-9
Round 12. Ali 10-9
Round 13. Ali 10-9
Round 14. Ali 10-9


135 Ali
131 Frazier

I had it Ali the clear winner up to the stoppage. Frazier took way to much
punishment and did not send enough shots Ali's way.