Ali vs Frazier I: Would There Be Anything Like It?

[elmersalsa]

Would there be anything like Ali vs Frazier I? The Fight of the Century?

I thought that Tyson vs Holyfield I in 1991 was going to be something as equal in terms of anticipation and historical impact.

What made Ali vs Frazier I unique?
Why was better than the rest?

I was a baby at the time of that fight. But, I imagine the magnitude of this fight for those who witnessed it. Comments, please!

[Caractacus]

Maybe because Life seemed a lot simpler back in 1971
and things meant a lot more to people then compared to nowdays.

There was a build up to the fight but not to the point of over-exposure.

[Kalan]

I didn't think Ali-Frazier 1 was great.. Neither man boxed particularly well or defended particularly well.. Both boxers were super hittable and the fight slowed down often with Ali laying on the ropes and nothing was happening.. They were resting.. I had Ali winning 8 rounds to 7.. Today I would have Frazier winning because he scored 2-point rounds in the 15th and the 11th - where Ali was hurt bad and ready to go. Frazier was too small and lacked real heavyweight power to finish Ali off.. He was hitting Ali real good. Ali was my hero. I wanted him to win and thought he did. The 2-point round was a tremendous improvement in the scoring system and eventually I conceded that Frazier really did win it.

I was much happier with Foreman-Frazier 1. I didn't like Frazier at that time. Foreman did an excellent job in that particular fight. He didn't often but he looked fast and sharp. George weighed only 217. He was ripped to the gills at the weigh-in. I never saw him in that kind of shape in his life. He even looked slender and quick. Every punch carried real force and seemed to scare Frazier to death. At one time Frazier tried to turn ass around and run away like Amir Khan in the Danny Garcia fight. Smokin' was getting killed and I was thrilled.

[handsofstone]

I've never been a fan of Ali/Frazier 1 if I'm honest,thought Frazier was excellent mind but as far as watching goes,it was a poor spectacle due to Ali's awful style,Smokin Joe was a clear winner I thought

[Syntax Error]

Two undefeated guys, both with legitimate claims to the world HW crown.

Also, Ali was the most recognisable man on the planet & it was his antics that made the even as big as it was.

The fight was tremendous & there was just no way that Smokin' Joe was going to lose to Ali that night, especially after all the unfair things Ali said about him after Joe helped him out during his exile.

[Rexob]

It's all about hype and this fight had it all 2 undefeated genuine HOF fighters, one slightly over the hill and the other in his peak physical prime taking on each other in what use to be the biggest prize in sport.

[yancey]

It was a great spectacle. Believe me, I lived it and the whole world stopped for the FOTC.

And I've long maintained that Frazier was NOT at his absolute prime for this one. He was coming off a fractured ankle from 4/70, had ongoing BP issues, and had less than two full rounds in the ring in the 12 months preceding the fight. He did not show quite the quickness and bobbing/weaving movement that he had in '69, which I believe was his actual peak.

But both men fought great and gave it their all that night.

Ali KNEW that this was a fight where he was going to have to fight a full three minutes every round and be pressed like never before. This was not one of the plodding stiffs of the '66 and '67 era that he could look good dancing around with. Frazier was a guy who was going to push him like never before. The laying on the ropes and clowning were clever efforts by Ali to save energy, steal time, and discourage Frazier. I commend Ali, he gave a tremendous effort that night in one of the
best performances of his career.

[Rexob]

A 66, 67, Ali would have beat Frazier quite easily, don't you think.

[JC]

If Mayweather and Pacquiao had fought when they were supposed to (around 2009/10 after MP's Cotto or Margarito fights) it would have been up there in terms of global interest.

[Syntax Error]

A 66, 67, Ali would have beat Frazier quite easily, don't you think.

I don't think so.

Ali would always have had trouble with Frazier.

OK, he might not have struggled as much if we was in his '67 vintage, but he would have had his work cut out to deter Smokin' Joe.

[yancey]

A 66, 67, Ali would have beat Frazier quite easily, don't you think.

(a three star lol, my highest given)

Do you seriously believe what you posted or is this some wishful Ali fanboy thinking? How old are you?

Joe Frazier was one hell of a fighter at his peak.

Counting the Chuvalo fight (which lasted 3 rounds and 19 seconds) I think Frazier would have taken 16-18 rounds to have steamrolled all FIVE of Ali's '66 challengers! On separate nights, of course. (Mildenberger makes it the longest)

Think about that, sports fan.

[yancey]

A 66, 67, Ali would have beat Frazier quite easily, don't you think.

I don't think so.

Ali would always have had trouble with Frazier.

OK, he might not have struggled as much if we was in his '67 vintage, but he would have had his work cut out to deter Smokin' Joe.

Some may or may not get this, but 3/8/71 Ali was tougher and stronger then the earlier version.

He had to be.

[Kalan]

[quote="yancey Some may or may not get this, but 3/8/71 Ali was tougher and stronger then the earlier version. He had to be.[/quote]

I agree and so did Angelo Dundee... He said after the Quarry fight that Ali was bigger, stronger, and faster at 28 than he had been 3 years earlier.

[Rexob]

A 66, 67, Ali would have beat Frazier quite easily, don't you think.

(a three star lol, my highest given)

Do you seriously believe what you posted or is this some wishful Ali fanboy thinking? How old are you?

Joe Frazier was one hell of a fighter at his peak.

Counting the Chuvalo fight (which lasted 3 rounds and 19 seconds) I think Frazier would have taken 16-18 rounds to have steamrolled all FIVE of Ali's '66 challengers! On separate nights, of course. (Mildenberger makes it the longest)

Think about that, sports fan.

Frazier fanboy right here.
I don't really want to argue an obvious thing that Ali was not at his peak against Frazier, TFOC took everything that Frazier had to beat a fighter that had just come back from a 3 year exile, Ali was not the same fighter that he was the 3 years previous, if he was Frazier would have lost. A 26/27 Ali was the best ever heavyweight nobody came close, not even the great Frazier.
You know I'm right, stop looking at it through rose tinted glasses.

[elmersalsa]

Everytime I watch this fight on tape or in YouTube, it gives me a great feeling, even though I didn't see it live. Like I said, I was a just a toddler. But, this fight brought this observer an imagination of how big the fight was itself. You could feel the fight like if you was there, live and direct. Few fights come a little close to that one, like Duran vs Leonard I, Leonard vs Hearns I or Ali vs Foreman, but, this fight was over all of them. It was a magical night.

Legendary announcer Don Dunphy said that that fight was the best fight he had ever witnessed in terms of anticipation, hype and drama.

It was Smokin' Joe's finest hour.

When Tyson vs Holyfield I were going to fight in 1991, it gave me, IN MY LIFETIME, that same feeling. Now, this fight was going to be the Ali vs Frazier I of my generation. Unfortunately, it didn't happened. Iron Mike had the injury in his ribs and then, was incarcerated for rape. When they fought 5 years later, it was not the same feeling I had in anticipation terms like in 1991.

It's going to be a long time for a fight to surpass what The Fight of the Century was. A extraordinary fight of an extraordinary era in boxing.

[SenorPipino]

A 66, 67, Ali would have beat Frazier quite easily, don't you think.

(a three star lol, my highest given)

Do you seriously believe what you posted or is this some wishful Ali fanboy thinking? How old are you?

Joe Frazier was one hell of a fighter at his peak.

Counting the Chuvalo fight (which lasted 3 rounds and 19 seconds) I think Frazier would have taken 16-18 rounds to have steamrolled all FIVE of Ali's '66 challengers! On separate nights, of course. (Mildenberger makes it the longest)

Think about that, sports fan.

Oh please Yancey. Criticizing someone for being an Ali fanboy when everyone recognizes you as a Frazier fanboy.

So what makes you better?

You can argue all day and night about how long it would have taken for Frazier to have beaten the 1966 5. It's pure speculation on your part. Just conjecture. You don't know.

It's not conjecture that Ali won 2 out of 3 bouts against Frazier (you can look it up) and the overwhelming number of boxing historians rate him superior to Frazier.

That's what irks you. That's what eats you up.

But look at it this way. There's no shame in coming in #2 behind the GOAT.

[Seamus]

A great win for Joe Frazier in a fight he won decisively. Unfortunately though his fans make too many excuses for him in later fights.

[yancey]

A 66, 67, Ali would have beat Frazier quite easily, don't you think.

(a three star lol, my highest given)

Do you seriously believe what you posted or is this some wishful Ali fanboy thinking? How old are you?

Joe Frazier was one hell of a fighter at his peak.

Counting the Chuvalo fight (which lasted 3 rounds and 19 seconds) I think Frazier would have taken 16-18 rounds to have steamrolled all FIVE of Ali's '66 challengers! On separate nights, of course. (Mildenberger makes it the longest)

Think about that, sports fan.

Oh please Yancey. Criticizing someone for being an Ali fanboy when everyone recognizes you as a Frazier fanboy.

So what makes you better?

You can argue all day and night about how long it would have taken for Frazier to have beaten the 1966 5. It's pure speculation on your part. Just conjecture. You don't know.

It's not conjecture that Ali won 2 out of 3 bouts against Frazier (you can look it up) and the overwhelming number of boxing historians rate him superior to Frazier.

That's what irks you. That's what eats you up.

But look at it this way. There's no shame in coming in #2 behind the GOAT.

Doesn't irk me at all, bubba.

I have consistently said I would take Frazier winning the FOTC over the two lesser affairs. I really and truly mean that, whether you believe me I don't really care.

And as to what would happen between '69 Frazier and '66 Ali, you are absolutely right that it is pure conjecture as to what would happen.

So why don't you say that to those who routinely say that '66 Ali beats '69 Frazier? Wouldn't that be the same conjecture on their part?

btw, care to guess who this "Frazier fanboy" generally lists as the #1 ATG heavy, or at least in the top two with Louis?

I tell you.....

Muhammad Ali.

I give him great credit for the long length of his career at or near the top.

Maybe you can apply the same critical thinking skills to what I'm saying.

But I sort of doubt you possess them.

[yancey]

A great win for Joe Frazier in a fight he won decisively. Unfortunately though his fans make too many excuses for him in later fights.

Frazier was never, ever the same post-FOTC.

He climbed his mountain, lost his edge, and was more interested in his music.

And he declined physically, as swarmer types generally do. There is no doubt the FOTC took a lot out of him.

He should have taken Durham's advice and retired post-FOTC.

[Seamus]

If they had met 5 months after the FOTC, I'm sure Ali would have won. Too much pride.

[Ambling Alp II]

A great win for Joe Frazier in a fight he won decisively. Unfortunately though his fans make too many excuses for him in later fights.

Amen. The crybaby excuses are over the top.

[Caractacus]

Were were any of you'all in March 1971 anyway ?
I remember where I was.
still ten years old and in the sixth grade.
So I remember the time but couldnt really appreciate
the significence of the fight.
I had heard about it on the news and stuff tho.
I was more interested in the film careers of King Kong and Godzilla at that point.

[BoxBuzz]

A great win for Joe Frazier in a fight he won decisively. Unfortunately though his fans make too many excuses for him in later fights.

Frazier was never, ever the same post-FOTC.

He climbed his mountain, lost his edge, and was more interested in his music.

And he declined physically, as swarmer types generally do. There is no doubt the FOTC took a lot out of him.

He should have taken Durham's advice and retired post-FOTC.

I'm kinda sorta begrudgingly with Yance on this one.
You only have to have climbed Mt Everest one time to have bragging rights......even if you stumbled on two other occasions.
You still get to say you did it. On one very important occasion, that mountain was NOT too high for Joe.

[Caractacus]

Hey Boxbuzz,Remember this cool song from 1971 ?
Did you ever hug a tree when you got near it ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLfO738Ok5Y

[SaadOffTheDeck]

A 66, 67, Ali would have beat Frazier quite easily, don't you think.

I don't think so.

Ali would always have had trouble with Frazier.

OK, he might not have struggled as much if we was in his '67 vintage, but he would have had his work cut out to deter Smokin' Joe.

Some may or may not get this, but 3/8/71 Ali was tougher and stronger then the earlier version.

He had to be.

Agreed, I don't think Clay lasts the distance.