What if: Ali-Frazier I in 1969

[OctoberRed]

I believe Ali would beat Frazier in a close UD. Ali lost his legs in exile, those legs would give Frazier hell. BUT, I still for some reason,in my head I see Frazier knock Ali down in this fight.

But Ali wins ultimately in a tough fight.

From what I have heard,Ali before exile was a gym rat,after the exile he appearently didn't train as hard. Larry Holmes in an interview with him,Ali,Norton and Frazier said Ali didn't train seriously for Foreman which shocked hte hell out of me

I keep thinking Ali was too confident and overlooked him a bit the first time around.

[KOComplaints]

I keep thinking Ali was too confident and overlooked him a bit the first time around.

I feel alot of that had to do with the fame from the exile thing.
But Ali according to Dundee had trained the hardest he ever had for Frazier 1 if what I heard is right

[DreamFighter]

ali would have taken it without the 3.5 year layoff, he was visibly less active after it. Perhaps Joe hadnt yet peaked too.

but the toughest win of his career, no disrespect to frazier, marginal SD win requiring a rematch.

[OctoberRed]

I feel alot of that had to do with the fame from the exile thing.
But Ali according to Dundee had trained the hardest he ever had for Frazier 1 if what I heard is right

What were the odds for the first fight? Was the Ali the favorite and by how much?

[Dempsey-Louis]

What were the odds for the first fight? Was the Ali the favorite and by how much?

According to a NYTimes article (March 7th) - Frazier was a 7-5 favorite (Vegas) but Ali's world-wide appeal had him an 11-8 favorite with London Bookmakers.

These were both early lines, I have not found 'fight-time' odds yet.

[BKM-]

We never even saw a 1969 Ali. If we go by the 67 version and assume he's even stronger physically 2 years later, as maturation of the mid 20s tends to do that, Frazier would find it much tougher to win.

Ali back then had some of the best conditioning I've ever seen, for a guy his size to use his legs that much for 15 rounds and not get tired not to mention all the upperbody movement and combinations he used along the way is pretty crazy.

It's unreasonable to think anybody could keep up with that kind of specimen, sorry. Even Frazier.

[Ray Corso]

Ali un.decs. over 15rds. Ali had his prime removed by a government still led by the "good ol' boy network".

Ali at that time was unbeatable, he made Liston quit on his stool.

Ali was not the same man in his return! Three and a half years is a very very long lay off even for a young man.

Ray