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Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 08 Mar 2016, 18:50
by elmersalsa
Greetings my brethren!
Tonight, if you have the chance, watch the replay of this classic and unforgettable night of March 8, 1971. Two undefeated heavyweight champions went at it. I am talking about "The Fight of the Century". What a fight!
It had everything: Hype, anticipation, drama and most of all, the fight exceeded the expectations. It was the most anticipated fight ever, and probably, we will never see nothing like it. The great Joe Frazier, the world's heavyweight champion, at 27 years young versus the other great, Muhammad Ali. These guys battled and battled and gave the Madison Square Garden crowd something that they will never forget: 15 rounds of guts, sweats, muscle and most of all, blows that other heavyweights would have gone down on the spot.
Both fighters got paid $2 million dollars!
The left hook in the 15th round on Ali's jaw, was classic. It was also a classic when he got up. How did he got up in a battle of attrition of that caliber? I don't know. Maybe it was the competition to be the best. Maybe it was the pride between the two. Ali was The Greatest that night, but, Smokin' Joe was Greater! It was his FINEST HOUR!...It was in my view, the greatest single performance of all time in a boxing ring. On that night in my view, NO HEAVYWEIGHT WOULD HAVE BEATEN Smokin' Joe Frazier!
Watch the fight again. It is worth seeing it thousand times.
It's been 45 years? Really? Damn!
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 08 Mar 2016, 20:37
by yancey
The 15th round left hook from Frazier was a long one and I've always thought Ali rode it a bit. Frazier had to be very tired in the final round and the strength of the hook was also diminished. Frazier stunned Ali with another left at the midway point
of the final round, but failed to follow up. With a second knockdown, things could have gotten very interesting with well over a minute left in the fight.
The left hook that knocked out Bob Foster was a shorter, more powerful punch, in my view. Of course, Frazier was also fresh and strong in that fight.
btw, I think it was 2.5 million apiece.
I wonder who currently has possession of the gloves from the FOTC. Contractually, many of the items from that night went to the promotion. Jerry Perenchio was the main promoter for the FOTC, if I recall correctly.
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 09 Mar 2016, 03:38
by evrenb
The only thing missing in this fight was a prime Ali. Other than that I agree it was the greatest Boxing event of the 20th Century. Both the build up and the actual match. Frazier was awesome that night.
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 09 Mar 2016, 06:26
by Syntax Error
One of the few fights where the loser 'won' too.
Frazier clearly was the better man, but Ali proved that night that he was a 'man' too & not just a flashy fancy dan with a big gob.
Smokin' Joe was unstoppable that night & Ali would have needed a howitzer to deter Joe, but he tried his heart out.
To this day, I don't know how Muhammad got straight up from that monster hook from Joe & similarly, where did Joe summon the strength from so late in that fight to produce that punch?
Two great warriors & one great fight.
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 09 Mar 2016, 08:46
by Rexob
evrenb wrote:The only thing missing in this fight was a prime Ali. Other than that I agree it was the greatest Boxing event of the 20th Century. Both the build up and the actual match. Frazier was awesome that night.
Agree with this "rumble in the jungle" wasn't far off though ?
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 09 Mar 2016, 17:36
by evrenb
Rexob wrote:evrenb wrote:The only thing missing in this fight was a prime Ali. Other than that I agree it was the greatest Boxing event of the 20th Century. Both the build up and the actual match. Frazier was awesome that night.
Agree with this "rumble in the jungle" wasn't far off though ?
Ali still wasn't prime there, though he was conditioned as he was fighting regularly at top level. Ali was awful against Bonavena in the fight prior to Frazier 1. Saying this I do not want to take away from Frazier's amazing performance. . . Perhaps one of the top performances ever by a fighter.
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 09 Mar 2016, 17:59
by Rexob
evrenb wrote:Rexob wrote:evrenb wrote:The only thing missing in this fight was a prime Ali. Other than that I agree it was the greatest Boxing event of the 20th Century. Both the build up and the actual match. Frazier was awesome that night.
Agree with this "rumble in the jungle" wasn't far off though ?
Ali still wasn't prime there, though he was conditioned as he was fighting regularly at top level. Ali was awful against Bonavena in the fight prior to Frazier 1. Saying this I do not want to take away from Frazier's amazing performance. . . Perhaps one of the top performances ever by a fighter.
I meant the Rumble was an event like TFOC was.
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 09 Mar 2016, 18:02
by Tuan_Jim
Easily the best heavyweight title fight ever. Easily.
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 23 Mar 2016, 06:10
by elmersalsa
The fight was kind in even terms until the 11th round when Smokin' Joe gave The Greatest that famous left hook. Ali was in bad shape in that round...After the 11th, it was all Joe Frazier!
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 24 Mar 2016, 14:52
by Ambling Alp II
Ali had a very good round 13 and a very good round 14. Otherwise an astute observation.
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 29 Mar 2016, 23:03
by ClivePatrickLyons
Re: Ali vs Frazier I: 45 Years Later, and Still is "The Fight of the Century"
Posted: 29 Mar 2016, 23:40
by ImranSarwar
"The" FIGHT OF THE CENTURY!
