Ali vs. Frazier: the Fight of the Century

[SABBATH]

I had it 9-6 to Frazier from memory... the myth that Ali was completely dominated throughout the fight that some here on this board perpertuate is bull****. Ali put up a good fight and inflicted heavy punishment on Joe.. but Joe being the true warrior he is dug deep, persevered and won the fight.

I've viewed this fight more times than I can count and own copies of it in both a filmed version (the Fighters) and the closed-circuit video version, both which have different and contrasting camera positions. You can get a different perspective of rounds and exchanges depending on what angle you watch it from.

The fight was basically up for grabs after ten rounds. The post exile Ali had a pattern in 15 round fights. He would often start fast to try and sweep the early rounds. He would then coast a bit in the middle rounds, then step it up in the last five.

Ali conserved energy in the middle rounds and got outworked by Joe and these rounds ultimately proved to be costly to Ali because of the 11th round. Ali foolishly stayed in the corner after backing Joe off and waved Joe back in so he could 'shoeshine' him. The monster left hook that Ali ate changed the complexion of the fight, won the round for Joe and probably had Ali in a bit of a fog for a couple of rounds afterwards. Ali starting coming on in the 14th and looked fresh and fast to start the 15th but another Frazier left hook "blew the candles out on the birthday cake" to quote Drew Brown.

Referee Arthur Mercante was an exprienced, unbiased referee with the best view in the house. He had the fight 7-6-1 going into the last round and I'm good with that. There were some close rounds but because of the dominant 11th and 15th I've always considered Joe to be the winner of the FOTC.

I will say that Ali's onslaught in the first 5 rounds were brutal and there are few heavyweights that would have survived without being spent either mentally and/or physically. Frazier's herculean effort sent him to the hospital for weeks afterwards where he admittedly was close to death. That's the toll it took on Joe and it speaks volumes of his heart, courage and determination to emerge the victor.

[NJFighter91]

Anyone know where I can get a video ******* of it because I don't have cable and they don't show boxing on free networks so I need to download it. I really want to see this fight.

[Brassangel]

I guess it's safe to assume that the judges were granting a few points for heart, determination, and will. That's fair. I'm not upset with the result, I just felt that technically, based on points, Ali seemed to pile them up to an almost insurmountable number. That could, of course, speak volumes for Frazier since he did stay with it and fought it out until the very end.

[Hard Boiled HK]

I really want to see their 2nd and 3rd fight! Does anyone have them, and if so, could anyone be so kind as to upload them?

[Frazier's 15th round]

Okay, I just watched it for the first time in a while, and 11-4 is a bit too biased. I think Ali won 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, and 14, while Frazier won 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15.

So 9-6.

[K-DOGG]

Maybe I'm nuts, but it's come up a lot lately (and in the past) and it bothers me. I have Ali winning at least 8-9 rounds in this fight, with the big rounds (11 and 15) of course going to Frazier. While Frazier showed incredible heart, stamina, and had Ali out on his feet in the 11th, I believe that Ali won on points and on rounds. Since the fight was scored by rounds, I think that Frazier may have been gifted by a change of heart from the judges as the fight progressed. Not that Frazier didn't fight a spectacular fight, I just think that Ali was taken a bit.

Your thoughts....

Hate to disagree with you; but Ali gave away too many rounds laying on the ropes to win this fight. I don't remember my score; but I know Frazier won. Can't watch it again because my old VCR ate the tape in it's death throws.

I miss that damn tape.

[TysonK.O.]

can some1 post the video i havent seen it and it seems like a great fight..plz

[The Raging Bull]

The last time i watched the fight, which was about 4 days ago , i had it 8-7 to Frazier but on my first viewing i thought Ali had won.

[KoolWillie]

here the highlights from 1,2,3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPa3S...=Frazier%20Ali

[The Noose]

Everyone should try to get hold of the documentry 'The Fighters'on DVD, it shows all the build up, plus the whole fight without any commentry, so i believe u get to make up ur own mind, and hear alot of those brutal punches landing.

I always had it for Frazier, but i got to watch it again.

I think in alot of rounds, its a case of Fraziers big left versus Ali's jab.
Does one big shot equal many scoring lighter punches?