On this day 45 years ago...probably the biggest boxing event ever.

[man]

wlad, fury, wilder, briggs, valuev, charles martin. Joe would take them all in one night and he'd still be more active than the last guy he'd fight. Guys are big but the HW pace is so slow nowadays. You're out of your mind to think that a Frazier-Briggs fight would be interesting to see, as if the result was unpredictable.

not so sure about that. since ancient
times ageing men believe the past was
so much better than the present.

i think joe would be a solid fighter and
might be the man now, but he doesn't
take out everyone in two.

[Oiky]

what a fight, two legends in our sport.

their fights never get boring

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I didn't think Frazier was a clear winner. He was beat up much worse than Ali was, and almost died afterwards I read. It was the best version of Frazier vs a past his best but still good Ali. The 3.5 years off that Ali had showed in the 70's part of his career.

Frazier broke his ankle less than a year before that fight. He was better in 68 and 69. We probably never saw Ali at his best. I think the pre-layoff Ali gets stopped in the garden.

[Redback Rasta]

There are people around of that age you know. It's not like it's a scientific miracle or something.

LOL no I hear ya. Just the way he talked around the forums I just had thought he was younger.

Anyone paying attention knows exactly how old I am.

Respect

Great to see there are people here who have witnessed things others in many cases haven't even bothered to read about.

[Tanzio]

I didn't think Frazier was a clear winner. He was beat up much worse than Ali was, and almost died afterwards I read. It was the best version of Frazier vs a past his best but still good Ali. The 3.5 years off that Ali had showed in the 70's part of his career.

Frazier broke his ankle less than a year before that fight. He was better in 68 and 69. We probably never saw Ali at his best. I think the pre-layoff Ali gets stopped in the garden.

I think not.

Frazier "was better" against lesser competition (and I loved the way he fought). He fought the fight of his life that night.

[Tanzio]

LOL no I hear ya. Just the way he talked around the forums I just had thought he was younger.

Anyone paying attention knows exactly how old I am.

Respect

Great to see there are people here who have witnessed things others in many cases haven't even bothered to read about.

thanks.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Agreed that was his greatest performance, it was Ali, too many people talk about Ali's layoff without even knowing about Joe's injuries. They were both right about at their best and Joe whipped his ass.

[Tanzio]

Agreed that was his greatest performance, it was Ali, too many people talk about Ali's layoff without even knowing about Joe's injuries. They were both right about at their best and Joe whipped his ass.

I was an Ali fan and my bro was a Smokin Joe fan. We sparred regularly. He fought like Joe. I fought like Ali in those days. He even had Fraziers lefthook. I was hurt that night by Ali's loss but it was a great great fight more on the pace of a welter weight war. Joe was the epitome of a warrior.

Ali should have taken another tune up or two but that is no excuse.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Agreed that was his greatest performance, it was Ali, too many people talk about Ali's layoff without even knowing about Joe's injuries. They were both right about at their best and Joe whipped his ass.

I was an Ali fan and my bro was a Smokin Joe fan. We sparred regularly. He fought like Joe. I fought like Ali in those days. He even had Fraziers lefthook. I was hurt that night by Ali's loss but it was a great great fight more on the pace of a welter weight war. Joe was the epitome of a warrior.

Ali should have taken another tune up or two but that is no excuse.

When your 'tune ups' are Quarry and Bonavena there isn't much more to get ready. I think Joe had fought 2 rounds in a year.

[Cutman Scabbers]

I didn't think Frazier was a clear winner. He was beat up much worse than Ali was, and almost died afterwards I read. It was the best version of Frazier vs a past his best but still good Ali. The 3.5 years off that Ali had showed in the 70's part of his career.

I think you're thinking of the Thrilla in Manila.

No, that was the first fight.

Frazier was in hospital for almost a month after fight 1.

He almost had a CVA & had to be on medication to keep his blood pressure down.

Really? I had no idea...

[Lancenix]

I didn't think Frazier was a clear winner. He was beat up much worse than Ali was, and almost died afterwards I read. It was the best version of Frazier vs a past his best but still good Ali. The 3.5 years off that Ali had showed in the 70's part of his career.

Hmm that is weird and Ali almost died after their third fight. After their third fight Ali should have just retired right then. It would have been the perfect ending to his career. Who knows how it may have saved his brain as well.

[Lancenix]

I didn't think Frazier was a clear winner. He was beat up much worse than Ali was, and almost died afterwards I read. It was the best version of Frazier vs a past his best but still good Ali. The 3.5 years off that Ali had showed in the 70's part of his career.

I think you're thinking of the Thrilla in Manila.

No, that was the first fight.

Frazier was in hospital for almost a month after fight 1.

He almost had a CVA & had to be on medication to keep his blood pressure down.

Frazier was the clear winner of that fight though. No doubt. If you say differently then you are so biased for Ali that you will never believe differently. You can't be helped. Let us not forget Ali was knocked down buck naked in that fight. No flash knockdown either. I mean decked! Did you score that round for Ali?

[Lancenix]

LOL no I hear ya. Just the way he talked around the forums I just had thought he was younger.

Anyone paying attention knows exactly how old I am.

Respect

Great to see there are people here who have witnessed things others in many cases haven't even bothered to read about.

I have seen the fight many times buddy but I was not alive when it was fought. I am sorry I was not alive. You were not alive for John L. Sullivan's fights so you are not a real boxing fan either. You need to read what I wrote.

[Redback Rasta]

Anyone paying attention knows exactly how old I am.

Respect

Great to see there are people here who have witnessed things others in many cases haven't even bothered to read about.

I have seen the fight many times buddy but I was not alive when it was fought. I am sorry I was not alive. You were not alive for John L. Sullivan's fights so you are not a real boxing fan either. You need to read what I wrote.

Who are you and where did I make any mention of you?

[Tanzio]

Anyone paying attention knows exactly how old I am.

Respect

Great to see there are people here who have witnessed things others in many cases haven't even bothered to read about.

I have seen the fight many times buddy but I was not alive when it was fought. I am sorry I was not alive. You were not alive for John L. Sullivan's fights so you are not a real boxing fan either. You need to read what I wrote.

How was business at the McDonald's drive thru today, Farcenix?

[Lancenix]

Respect

Great to see there are people here who have witnessed things others in many cases haven't even bothered to read about.

I have seen the fight many times buddy but I was not alive when it was fought. I am sorry I was not alive. You were not alive for John L. Sullivan's fights so you are not a real boxing fan either. You need to read what I wrote.

How was business at the McDonald's drive thru today, Farcenix?

You are a TRUE OLD, WEIRDO. I do not work at McDonald's but I would never disrespect someone working at McDonald's whether it is to support their college education or their family. There are plenty of hard working people who work at McDonald's or many other multi billion dollar companies getting underpaid and struggling to make a living wage. That is a BIG problem in the U.S. I see in the country and the disparity between the rich and poor has only become worse and worse. But you are an old, nasty, bitter man. Grow up.

[Tanzio]

I have seen the fight many times buddy but I was not alive when it was fought. I am sorry I was not alive. You were not alive for John L. Sullivan's fights so you are not a real boxing fan either. You need to read what I wrote.

How was business at the McDonald's drive thru today, Farcenix?

You are a TRUE OLD, WEIRDO. I do not work at McDonald's but I would never disrespect someone working at McDonald's whether it is to support their college education or their family. There are plenty of hard working people who work at McDonald's or many other multi billion dollar companies getting underpaid and struggling to make a living wage. That is a BIG problem in the U.S. I see in the country and the disparity between the rich and poor has only become worse and worse. But you are an old, nasty, bitter man. Grow up.

And you call me thin skinned?

I didn't disrespect you for working at McDonald's. I asked you how your day was.

Cease with your lectures about the socioeconomic conditions in this country you miserable, lying, cowardly mental midget.

FYI, that was an appropriately nasty and conscious serial insult pertaining to you.

I worked at burger joints as a child, among much mor menial and more difficult jobs. I recruit individuals who have done the same, who are ambitious and are willing to do what it takes to accomplish the mission and be compensated appropriately for the effort.

I agree with you that the division of wealth in this country is bordering on oligarchical. I spend my days doing what I can about it.

Nasty is not the word that my adversaries use to describe me.

[Lancenix]

How was business at the McDonald's drive thru today, Farcenix?

You are a TRUE OLD, WEIRDO. I do not work at McDonald's but I would never disrespect someone working at McDonald's whether it is to support their college education or their family. There are plenty of hard working people who work at McDonald's or many other multi billion dollar companies getting underpaid and struggling to make a living wage. That is a BIG problem in the U.S. I see in the country and the disparity between the rich and poor has only become worse and worse. But you are an old, nasty, bitter man. Grow up.

And you call me thin skinned?

I didn't disrespect you for working at McDonald's. I asked you how your day was.

Cease with your lectures about the socioeconomic conditions in this country you miserable, lying, cowardly mental midget.

FYI, that was an appropriately nasty and conscious serial insult pertaining to you.

I worked at burger joints as a child, among much mor menial and more difficult jobs. I recruit individuals who have done the same, who are ambitious and are willing to do what it takes to accomplish the mission and be compensated appropriately for the effort.

I agree with you that the division of wealth in this country is bordering on oligarchical. I spend my days doing what I can about it.

Nasty is not the word that my adversaries use to describe me.

BITTER, OLD< NASTY CREEPY WEIRDO= Tanzio. That is from me to you.

[Tanzio]

You are a TRUE OLD, WEIRDO. I do not work at McDonald's but I would never disrespect someone working at McDonald's whether it is to support their college education or their family. There are plenty of hard working people who work at McDonald's or many other multi billion dollar companies getting underpaid and struggling to make a living wage. That is a BIG problem in the U.S. I see in the country and the disparity between the rich and poor has only become worse and worse. But you are an old, nasty, bitter man. Grow up.

And you call me thin skinned?

I didn't disrespect you for working at McDonald's. I asked you how your day was.

Cease with your lectures about the socioeconomic conditions in this country you miserable, lying, cowardly mental midget.

FYI, that was an appropriately nasty and conscious serial insult pertaining to you.

I worked at burger joints as a child, among much mor menial and more difficult jobs. I recruit individuals who have done the same, who are ambitious and are willing to do what it takes to accomplish the mission and be compensated appropriately for the effort.

I agree with you that the division of wealth in this country is bordering on oligarchical. I spend my days doing what I can about it.

Nasty is not the word that my adversaries use to describe me.

BITTER, OLD< NASTY CREEPY WEIRDO= Tanzio. That is from me to you.

Not a completely inaccurate description, which is a step in the right direction for you.

[bogan whisperer]

Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier....Two undefeated heavyweight champions meeting at Madison Sq, Garden and watched by 300 million paid customers via closed circuit at theaters around the world.

It still gives me chills. Bigger than the Super Bowl. Bigger than anything since, imo. Nothing has ever come close since.

I agree. Imagine how much money Ali vs Frazier the fight of the century would have made if it was held now. There wouldn't be a stadium big enough to hold the paying customers and the PPV would be absolutely phenomenal.

[Syntax Error]

I think you're thinking of the Thrilla in Manila.

No, that was the first fight.

Frazier was in hospital for almost a month after fight 1.

He almost had a CVA & had to be on medication to keep his blood pressure down.

Frazier was the clear winner of that fight though. No doubt. If you say differently then you are so biased for Ali that you will never believe differently. You can't be helped. Let us not forget Ali was knocked down buck naked in that fight. No flash knockdown either. I mean decked! Did you score that round for Ali?

Agreed, Frazier was the clear winner: I have never said anything else.

[caldo2025]

Unfortunately, I wasn't born yet and couldn't witness this fight but I relived it through my Father's stories many many many times. Not once did I interrupt him to alert him of the repeat story because I enjoyed every second of those stories. It was easy to understand how epic that night was just by looking at the excitement in his eyes.

To me, Frazier was the ultimate overachiever in Boxing. He paled in comparison to Ali in ability, size, reach and skill. He won this fight on heart. That's why boxing is the greatest sport in the world. There's just so many ways to be inspired by it.

[man]

Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier....Two undefeated heavyweight champions meeting at Madison Sq, Garden and watched by 300 million paid customers via closed circuit at theaters around the world.

It still gives me chills. Bigger than the Super Bowl. Bigger than anything since, imo. Nothing has ever come close since.

I agree. Imagine how much money Ali vs Frazier the fight of the century would have made if it was held now. There wouldn't be a stadium big enough to hold the paying customers and the PPV would be absolutely phenomenal.

imagine if floyd and manny had fought
like that ...

[man]

To me, Frazier was the ultimate overachiever in Boxing.

yes.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Unfortunately, I wasn't born yet and couldn't witness this fight but I relived it through my Father's stories many many many times. Not once did I interrupt him to alert him of the repeat story because I enjoyed every second of those stories. It was easy to understand how epic that night was just by looking at the excitement in his eyes.

To me, Frazier was the ultimate overachiever in Boxing. He paled in comparison to Ali in ability, size, reach and skill. He won this fight on heart. That's why boxing is the greatest sport in the world. There's just so many ways to be inspired by it.

Yes - I always thought Frazier a tad overrated, but it's true that he wasn't blessed with huge physical gifts. In fact he had a permanent disfigurement of his left arm which meant he couldn't really throw straight punches with it.

He was tough as they come was Joe, he took one hell of a lot of punishment from Ali in all 3 of their fights.

I also think his hatred for Ali spurred him on to survive those onslaughts.