Ali hadnt been stripped? Frazier still great??

[The Noose]

If Ali was allowed to continue fighting and hadnt been stripped as champion, would Frazier still be regarded as the great fighter he is today?

Of course, assuming when they met Ali beat Frazier.

Frazier built his reputation on the victory over Ali, and his rise to become champion wen Ali was away.

[hemichromis]

you say if ali beat frazier well if this happened frazier would never have been champ and so he would not be considered as that great. but i think frazier could have beaten ali even if ali wasn't laid off. if frazier couldn't ali would keep the title untill he was too old to fight, untill 78 or so

[butterfly1964]

you say if ali beat frazier well if this happened frazier would never have been champ and so he would not be considered as that great. but i think frazier could have beaten ali even if ali wasn't laid off. if frazier couldn't ali would keep the title untill he was too old to fight, untill 78 or so

Yeah, and he would have broken Rcoky's record as well.

[Jazzy Paul]

I've never regarded Frazier as great.

He's not.

[BKM-]

ONE of the greats, maybe, maybe not. But he was a ''great'' fighter for sure.

And yes, Frazier would have beat Ali even if Ali hadnt been stripped.

[RockyMarcianofan00]

Yeah, and he would have broken Rcoky's record as well.

I doubt it...this is all speculation...

Considering that Ali rarely ever performed at his peak...(just look at how many fights he would go into without fully preparing) somebody was bound to catch him and especially in the 70's...You had contenders that even Ali would have to be at his best to beat...Ken Norton, Jimmy Young, George Foreman (especially).....

If Ali hadn't been laid off I could see Foreman and/or Frazier putting him away...especially since I feel if Ali had tried to dance with Foreman, Ali would have been put away....

[Jazzy Paul]

ONE of the greats, maybe, maybe not. But he was a ''great'' fighter for sure.

And yes, Frazier would have beat Ali even if Ali hadnt been stripped.

I can't go along with that theory.

3 years out of the ring would diminish the talents of ANY fighter in ANY era.

[BKM-]

I can't go along with that theory.

3 years out of the ring would diminish the talents of ANY fighter in ANY era.

Sure. but Frazier would have beat Ali atleast once, no matter what.

[Southpaw Stinger]

Sure. but Frazier would have beat Ali atleast once, no matter what.

And probably Norton too...

[Jazzy Paul]

Sure. but Frazier would have beat Ali atleast once, no matter what.

I can't agree with that.

You name me one fighter that could take a 3 year lay-off (when they are at their prime), and come back to be the same fighter?

It's not possible IMO.