Round by Round Judging (Ali/Frazier Trilogy)

[BoxBuzz]

Ali would have finished Frazier sooner than the third fight, if Perez would have allowed it.


Ali landed a straight right to Frazier's jaw late in the second round. Wobbling slightly, Frazier retreated to the ropes but Perez leaped between them.

"Somebody called 'bell,'" Perez explained later, "so I stopped them both. Then the gong table yelled, 'Tony, the round isn't over.' Usually I hear the bell, but the bell was defective before the fight. They had to call the electrician to fix it. It was only five to eight seconds."

Afforded a moment's rest, Frazier easily finished the round, which ended 10 seconds later.



I always wondered who it was that called "bell".

[yancey]

Ali would have finished Frazier sooner than the third fight, if Perez would have allowed it.


Ali landed a straight right to Frazier's jaw late in the second round. Wobbling slightly, Frazier retreated to the ropes but Perez leaped between them.

"Somebody called 'bell,'" Perez explained later, "so I stopped them both. Then the gong table yelled, 'Tony, the round isn't over.' Usually I hear the bell, but the bell was defective before the fight. They had to call the electrician to fix it. It was only five to eight seconds."

Afforded a moment's rest, Frazier easily finished the round, which ended 10 seconds later.



I always wondered who it was that called "bell".

I always wondered how come it took an unusually long time to tally the scorecards that night.

[HomicideHenry]

I always wondered how come it took an unusually long time to tally the scorecards that night.

Not for me... its true the last few rounds were somewhat difficult to score because they were close... but for the most part, Ali controlled that fight... I was always under the assumption ALL the fights were close and bitterly fought, but this one seems to be an exception. It lacked the drama, or the passion of the first and last fight. And I think its because Frazier simply couldn't close the gap for several rounds--- Ali was certainly fit for this contest.

[BoxBuzz]

Ali would have finished Frazier sooner than the third fight, if Perez would have allowed it.


Ali landed a straight right to Frazier's jaw late in the second round. Wobbling slightly, Frazier retreated to the ropes but Perez leaped between them.

"Somebody called 'bell,'" Perez explained later, "so I stopped them both. Then the gong table yelled, 'Tony, the round isn't over.' Usually I hear the bell, but the bell was defective before the fight. They had to call the electrician to fix it. It was only five to eight seconds."

Afforded a moment's rest, Frazier easily finished the round, which ended 10 seconds later.



I always wondered who it was that called "bell".

I always wondered how come it took an unusually long time to tally the scorecards that night.

Maybe because the same guy who yelled "bell" had stolen all the pens?

[SenorPipino]

Ali would have finished Frazier sooner than the third fight, if Perez would have allowed it.


Ali landed a straight right to Frazier's jaw late in the second round. Wobbling slightly, Frazier retreated to the ropes but Perez leaped between them.

"Somebody called 'bell,'" Perez explained later, "so I stopped them both. Then the gong table yelled, 'Tony, the round isn't over.' Usually I hear the bell, but the bell was defective before the fight. They had to call the electrician to fix it. It was only five to eight seconds."

Afforded a moment's rest, Frazier easily finished the round, which ended 10 seconds later.



I always wondered who it was that called "bell".

Ali hated Perez. Called him a "dirty Puerto Rican dog."
I think Perez threatened to sue for slander.
Perhaps Perez was thinking revenge when he called that bogus knockdown of Ali during the Wepner bout one year later.

[jezzamundo]

I seem to be in the minority in thinking that the second fight was very close. I scored it 6-5-1 to Ali. I thought it was the most competitive (though least entertaining) fight in the trilogy, closely followed by FOTC, whereas I had Ali clearly ahead in the rubber match.

[yancey]

I seem to be in the minority in thinking that the second fight was very close. I scored it 6-5-1 to Ali. I thought it was the most competitive (though least entertaining) fight in the trilogy, closely followed by FOTC, whereas I had Ali clearly ahead in the rubber match.

Yes, the second fight was very close, with Frazier coming on.

The fight was horribly tainted by Ali's underhanded, dirty tactics. Perez allowed him to get away with it all night.

Many of the sportswriters at ringside, including the famed Red Smith, still had JF as the winner.

There was an unusually long delay before the decision got announced that night.

Very strange, or maybe not so strange. ;;-)

In any event, I hardly think Ali could take much pride in winning a fight where he constantly cheated.