Could ali have went undefeated despite the layoff?

[Dirt E Gomez]

you can say same about tysons losses, you can make excusess for everyone in history if you wants to.

Ding Ding Ding... we have a winner.

[Frazier's 15th round]

Frazier was better in 67-69 than he was in 1971. By that time, his eyesight was getting poor, and he threw only left hooks. Look at the way he tears up fighters in the late 60's. That was Frazier's best chance to beat Ali, and he would have done it.

[butterfly1964]

Frazier was better in 67-69 than he was in 1971. By that time, his eyesight was getting poor, and he threw only left hooks. Look at the way he tears up fighters in the late 60's. That was Frazier's best chance to beat Ali, and he would have done it.

are you serious? '71 was his prime, anybody knows that. he was 27 years old, and he didn't get the beatings ali and foreman gave him that would have damaged frazier yet. he was still pretty fresh, and he was unstoppable. in 67-69 frazier was still getting better, and stronger. ali would have been in his real prime in '68, and had the same strength in '71 and the same speed as in '67, which is pretty scary! imagine a 213-214lb. man moving that fast and punching that hard! frazier would have been cut to ribbits, and ali would have avoided most of those punches that took a toll on him in fight of the century. so frazier's prme was on the fight of the century! however, i'll give frazier credit for stopping ali's 31 fight winning streak, i mean quarry and bonavena couldn't stop it!

[Frazier's 15th round]

How could his prime be 1971 if all he threw were left hooks? You should check out Frazier vs Chuvalo in 1967. That was his real prime. And Frazier would have no problem landing punches on Ali, whether it's 67, 68, 69, 70, etc.

[butterfly1964]

How could his prime be 1971 if all he threw were left hooks? You should check out Frazier vs Chuvalo in 1967. That was his real prime. And Frazier would have no problem landing punches on Ali, whether it's 67, 68, 69, 70, etc.

oh, really? patterson is faster than frazier, and he couldn't hit him, so is liston, and he was confused. so what makes frazier any different?

[Skydog]

are you serious? '71 was his prime, anybody knows that. he was 27 years old, and he didn't get the beatings ali and foreman gave him that would have damaged frazier yet. he was still pretty fresh, and he was unstoppable. in 67-69 frazier was still getting better, and stronger. ali would have been in his real prime in '68, and had the same strength in '71 and the same speed as in '67, which is pretty scary! imagine a 213-214lb. man moving that fast and punching that hard! frazier would have been cut to ribbits, and ali would have avoided most of those punches that took a toll on him in fight of the century. so frazier's prme was on the fight of the century! however, i'll give frazier credit for stopping ali's 31 fight winning streak, i mean quarry and bonavena couldn't stop it!

Have you seen him destroy Chuvalo, Machen, Mathis, Quarry, etc.? Not only was he tearing up people with left hooks, but he was also KO'ing people with straight rights and right uppercuts.

[butterfly1964]

Have you seen him destroy Chuvalo, Machen, Mathis, Quarry, etc.? Not only was he tearing up people with left hooks, but he was also KO'ing people with straight rights and right uppercuts.

i still think he was better in '71. his left hook was way more powerful than in the 60s.

[Skydog]

Hmmm, ever seen Manuel Ramos get his brains bashed out by his left hook in 1968?

[butterfly1964]

Hmmm, ever seen Manuel Ramos get his brains bashed out by his left hook in 1968?

all those people you mention that got baste dby frazier don't have the chin that ali does, (except chuvalo, but he didn't go down, it was stopped). frazier in 68 couldn't floor ali like he did in '71.

[hellfire508]

I've seen all of the fights of Frazier's mentioned - and yes, he had a larger arsonal at that time. His right hand was a major factor in plenty of his fights. However - he was still developing. Most historians from my reading agree, the FOTC was Joe Frazier's best fight.

Butterfly - Patterson was faster than Frazier, but Frazier applied a greater deal of pressure, which crowded Ali and allowed him to be hit. A prime Ali is not the unhittable fighter who obviously think he is.