Happy 40th, Mr. Joe Frazier!

[yancey]

Happy anniversary of your win in the Fight of the Century, March 8, 1971, against Muhammad Ali.

You prevailed in what was one of the greatest sporting spectacles of the 20th century.

Two undefeated, legendary heavyweight champions meeting at a time when both men were nearest their respective peaks and fully aware that this was their moment of truth with the whole world watching.

Your heart and sense of sportsmanship is legendary.

You were as pure a warrior as many of us ever had the pleasure of seeing enter the squared circle.

Live long and may there be many great days ahead for you, Champ!

[elmersalsa]

It was a great fight. The great Joe Frazier hit the great Muhammad Ali with some shots that another heavyweight would have never got up. That is one of those figths that should have been in tv replays. But, of course, Ali vs Frazier II and III are more watched than this classic. And I don't understand why?

Is Ali protected by the media?
Where is the sportmanship?
Why Frazier's fans cannot enjoy this victory and get a replay of the 40th year anniversary of this fight?
I bet you the media (ESPNClassic or whoever) would make the 40th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila"

But anyway, a great win for Smokin' Joe.

[yancey]

It was a great fight. The great Joe Frazier hit the great Muhammad Ali with some shots that another heavyweight would have never got up. That is one of those figths that should have been in tv replays. But, of course, Ali vs Frazier II and III are more watched than this classic. And I don't understand why?

Is Ali protected by the media?
Where is the sportmanship?
Why Frazier's fans cannot enjoy this victory and get a replay of the 40th year anniversary of this fight?
I bet you the media (ESPNClassic or whoever) would make the 40th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila"

But anyway, a great win for Smokin' Joe.

"Is Ali protected by the media?"

Does a bear crap in the woods?

Face it, in the mainstream media's eyes, the wrong guy won the FOTC.

[BoxBuzz]

I don't understand that logic....though you're right Yancey...I think a lot of people think that way. IF Ali would have won that fight, neither Joe nor Ali would be the legends they are today. It was Ali's return from the FOTC (a moment that would have rightly been the end of many careers), that set up Ali for his series of "comebacks" that made Muhammad ...and Joe the iconic legends that they are. Ali will always have to face the fact that he lost when both men were at their best. And Joe will always have to accept that it was his victory that set Ali up for his "bigger than life" return to greatness.

It was a nearly "perfect pugilistic storm" for both men, and for the fans.

[Srebmun]

Ali will always have to face the fact that he lost when both men were at their best.

Ali wasn't at his best, surely, for the first Frazier fight??

[Giancarlo]

Ali will always have to face the fact that he lost when both men were at their best.

Ali wasn't at his best, surely, for the first Frazier fight??

No, it was too soon after coming back from the forced layoff to take on a fighter of Frazier's class.

Still, Ali accepted the defeat like a man and went on to greater things.

[Rocky Balboa]

It was a great fight. The great Joe Frazier hit the great Muhammad Ali with some shots that another heavyweight would have never got up. That is one of those figths that should have been in tv replays. But, of course, Ali vs Frazier II and III are more watched than this classic. And I don't understand why?

Is Ali protected by the media?
Where is the sportmanship?
Why Frazier's fans cannot enjoy this victory and get a replay of the 40th year anniversary of this fight?
I bet you the media (ESPNClassic or whoever) would make the 40th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila"

But anyway, a great win for Smokin' Joe.

"Is Ali protected by the media?"

Does a bear crap in the woods?

Face it, in the mainstream media's eyes, the wrong guy won the FOTC.

What do you exactly mean by that? You don't have to be a Boxing fan or be even familiar with the sport, to know by watching a replay of the fight, that Frazier Won!

The third fight is no doubt watched more so than the first, but I doubt the second is. We should no forget that both fighters were at/nearest their Peak than was the case in the two bouts that followed!

Frazier's Finest Hour. He beat Ali in the Fight of the Century & No one can take away from him! It was 40 years ago - both fighters were paid $2.5,000,000 Each. What would that equate to in today's world?

[yancey]

It was a great fight. The great Joe Frazier hit the great Muhammad Ali with some shots that another heavyweight would have never got up. That is one of those figths that should have been in tv replays. But, of course, Ali vs Frazier II and III are more watched than this classic. And I don't understand why?

Is Ali protected by the media?
Where is the sportmanship?
Why Frazier's fans cannot enjoy this victory and get a replay of the 40th year anniversary of this fight?
I bet you the media (ESPNClassic or whoever) would make the 40th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila"

But anyway, a great win for Smokin' Joe.

"Is Ali protected by the media?"

Does a bear crap in the woods?

Face it, in the mainstream media's eyes, the wrong guy won the FOTC.

"What do you exactly mean by that? You don't have to be a Boxing fan or be even familiar with the sport, to know by watching a replay of the fight, that Frazier Won!" Rocky Balboa

You misunderstand, bud.

Of course Joe Frazier won the FOTC!!!

What I am saying is Ali was an overwhelming favorite of the media. They have long built him up to be more than what he is. They made him a icon. So from their standpoint, the dream ending and the story they wanted to write about was for Ali to be the winner of the most important fight in many, many years. Hence, in their eyes, the "wrong" guy won.

[yancey]

Ali will always have to face the fact that he lost when both men were at their best.

Ali wasn't at his best, surely, for the first Frazier fight??

No, it was too soon after coming back from the forced layoff to take on a fighter of Frazier's class.

Still, Ali accepted the defeat like a man and went on to greater things.

Accepted the defeat "like a man", what a joke!

Within a week or two after losing, Ali begin a steady drumbeat that he (Ali) had really won the fight, that he was robbed! Ali knew damn well that Frazier won the fight.

Within 3-4 months after the FOTC, with assistance from his lapdogs in the media, Ali had a sizeable percentage of people out there convinced that he had won the FOTC.

Ali was very ungracious in his treatment of Frazier after the FOTC. In fact, he made Frazier a villain of sorts and deprived Frazier of true credit for his victory. Shabby treatment indeed of a man who had loaned Ali money and had lobbied for his return to the sport.

Does that sound like Ali took his defeat like a man?

[Giancarlo]

Ali wasn't at his best, surely, for the first Frazier fight??

No, it was too soon after coming back from the forced layoff to take on a fighter of Frazier's class.

Still, Ali accepted the defeat like a man and went on to greater things.

Accepted the defeat "like a man", what a joke!

Within a week or two after losing, Ali begin a steady drumbeat that he (Ali) had really won the fight, that he was robbed! Ali knew damn well that Frazier won the fight.

Within 3-4 months after the FOTC, with assistance from his lapdogs in the media, Ali had a sizeable percentage of people out there convinced that he had won the FOTC.

Ali was very ungracious in his treatment of Frazier after the FOTC. In fact, he made Frazier a villain of sorts and deprived Frazier of true credit for his victory. Shabby treatment indeed of a man who had loaned Ali money and had lobbied for his return to the sport.

Does that sound like Ali took his defeat like a man?

It sounds like you have issues, sir.

[yancey]

No, it was too soon after coming back from the forced layoff to take on a fighter of Frazier's class.

Still, Ali accepted the defeat like a man and went on to greater things.

Accepted the defeat "like a man", what a joke!

Within a week or two after losing, Ali begin a steady drumbeat that he (Ali) had really won the fight, that he was robbed! Ali knew damn well that Frazier won the fight.

Within 3-4 months after the FOTC, with assistance from his lapdogs in the media, Ali had a sizeable percentage of people out there convinced that he had won the FOTC.

Ali was very ungracious in his treatment of Frazier after the FOTC. In fact, he made Frazier a villain of sorts and deprived Frazier of true credit for his victory. Shabby treatment indeed of a man who had loaned Ali money and had lobbied for his return to the sport.

Does that sound like Ali took his defeat like a man?

It sounds like you have issues, sir.

Not at all. I just like the truth, good or bad.

Much better to have the truth, then to be gullible and swallow down the fairy tales that the agenda-driven media puts out for the masses.

[Giancarlo]

Not at all. I just like the truth, good or bad.

Much better to have the truth, then to be gullible and swallow down the fairy tales that the agenda-driven media puts out for the masses.

You don't want to make the mistake poor old Joe did of confusing drumming up MASSIVE interest in fights with personal attacks.

It's funny how all the other guys Ali fought and who got "the treatment", didn't have a 40 year sulk about it.

Then again, reading Joe's book and listening to him talk, it's clear he aint the sharpest tool in the drawer.

[elmersalsa]

The great Joe Frazier won the biggest fight of them all....I think Ali was in his prime when they fought the first time. After the first fight, it looked that Smokin' Joe left it all there. He was not the same guy after that. He defended the crown twice after that, but, he did not look that good never again.

[yancey]

The great Joe Frazier won the biggest fight of them all....I think Ali was in his prime when they fought the first time. After the first fight, it looked that Smokin' Joe left it all there. He was not the same guy after that. He defended the crown twice after that, but, he did not look that good never again.

Agreed.