1967 Ali vs. 1971 Frazier

[alishuffle]

Do you think that the Ali that beat Williams, and Foley would be able to beat the Joe Frazier that beat Ali? I know a big part of the fight was that Frazier was motivated by anger. He wanted to kill Ali, and I'm not sure that even a pre-ban Ali could have beaten him in that first fight.

If I had to put money on it, I would probably bet on Ali, but I wouldn't risk much.

Your thoughts?

[Dynamite Kid]

I dont think Ali could beat Joe in his " prime " either.

I believe Ali adapted to Frazier's style better after he had shared the ring with him, but i dont believe Ali is capable of dealing with Joe's style until he has already been in there with him and knows what to expect.

[Stoppage]

He could win, but I don't see him knocking Frazier out. Frazier in that fight was a beast. After that fight he started to decline a bit and put on more weight. In the end, this could be anybody's ball game.

[billionaire]

ali was owning the first half of the fotc before he got tired, no one wants to admit it....

[princemanspoper]

I think 1972 Ali beats the frazier that showed up on march 8th 1971.Frazier supporters like to argue that while ali may not have been in his physical prime,That was the closest to his prime he could have been.Not really,Everyone I would think would agree that ali was at his best on his return during 1972 reseme and performance wise taken into consideration (I guess 1974 has a case).The ali that frazier fought the first time was carrying great ring rust(is this debatable?)three and a half years is a great amount of time for any fighter to miss let alone a boxer of ali's style and attributes.He went through a horrible experience with oscar bonavena just three months earlier where his lack of ring action was very apparent and he was rather fortunate that the quarry bout got stopped when it did,Who knows what kind of deep water quarry could have dragged him under

Ali's ******ity and ego led to him taking this bout so early on his return,had he fought atleast three more fights after bonavena then I think the decision would have been very different

And Bill Recht's scoring was a joke

ali was owning the first half of the fotc before he got tired, no one wants to admit it....

I'm interested to know how long exactly frazier did spend in hospital compared to ali after their first encounter.I know it was always a touchy subject when ali constantly brought it up

[Sugarj]

I'm in full agreement with Prince here. Ali was better in 1972-74 than 70-71. He only really got his dancing feet back by the time of Norton 2 in 1973. Ali himself says by the time of the second Quarry fight in 72 he was back to something approaching good footwork stamina.

The 67 Ali would have his hands full with a prime Frazier.....no doubt. But if a post lay off Ali with declined reflexes, speed, a shocking inability to dance as he did in the late 60s was able to be even on the scorecards after 10 rounds, I'd venture the 67 Ali would take a tough decision in his favour.

[Dynamite Kid]

ali was owning the first half of the fotc before he got tired, no one wants to admit it....

Frazier's style is based on tiring you out and taking advantage of when you are tired.

[princemanspoper]

21 of fraziers 27 stoppages have come inside the first 5 rounds.The whole slow starter thing is an overblown myth

[sonnyboyx2]

21 of fraziers 27 stoppages have come inside the first 5 rounds.The whole slow starter thing is an overblown myth

yes i agree 100% the Frazier slow-starter was myth` .. Muhammad Ali was in his prime in 1967 that there is no doubt about, Yet Muhammad Ali fought the greatest fight of his professional career on March 8th 1971 and was beaten by Joe Frazier, if the Ali of 1967 was to have fought Frazier i see Ali winning by a clear points decision simply because he had `the legs` to keep him out of trouble.

[Sugarj]

I couldn't agree more Sonnybox.