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The most important prizefight in boxing’s history would take place on Boxing’s biggest stage - Madison Square Garden. It was Ali-Frazier I and in Frazier’s corner was a diminutive man, whose strategy would prove decisive in the fight. The man was Eddie Futch. Futch wanted Frazier to force Ali against the ropes and rip the body. Frazier's style was designed to have Ali throw uppercuts, so Ali would be open to Frazier fearsome left hook. To see the success of this strategy, all you have to do is to review both the 11th and 15th round of the fight. It was a Frazier left hook that sent Ali sprawling to the canvas in the last round. The left hook Ali ate in the eleventh round was just as deadly, a Frazier left hook over Ali’s right hand sent Ali spinning 180 degrees and nearly ended the fight.
Futch proved to be as much of a nemesis to Ali’s as either Frazier or Ken Norton. Ali would win four of six fights against both fighters but each fight was a nail biter and always in doubt until the very end. Some would even argue that Norton should have been given the decision over Ali in their rubber match. Eddie Futch resided in in the corners of both fighters.
For past the 70 years before he died, Futch was a major force in boxing. He trained 22 world champions and worked in the sport until he died. Futch’s first champion was Don Jordan, who captured the welterweight title in 1958. Futch directed Frazier's career and helped Frazier to develop the bob and weave style that would maximize Frazier’s strength, his toughness, endurance and ferocious left hook. Under Futch guidance, Frazier became the recognized champion during Ali’s absence in the late 60’s. He put an exclamation point when he beat Jimmy Ellis before meeting Ali.
Ken Norton was another student of Futch. A former Marine who picked up fighting while serving in the military, Norton came to the boxing game late. A good athlete, Norton had the raw talent to be a good prizefighter but it took Futch being in his corner to develop that talent. Futch was in Norton's corner when Norton confronted Ali. Norton proved tougher for Ali than even Frazier. While the Frazier-Ali fights were wars, Norton-Ali proved to be chess match in which the pressing Norton often trumped some of Ali’s best moves. Norton’s jab proved difficult for Ali to penetrate and his pressing style never allowed Ali to tee off on Norton.
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Futch proved to be as much of a nemesis to Ali’s as either Frazier or Ken Norton. Ali would win four of six fights against both fighters but each fight was a nail biter and always in doubt until the very end. Some would even argue that Norton should have been given the decision over Ali in their rubber match. Eddie Futch resided in in the corners of both fighters.
For past the 70 years before he died, Futch was a major force in boxing. He trained 22 world champions and worked in the sport until he died. Futch’s first champion was Don Jordan, who captured the welterweight title in 1958. Futch directed Frazier's career and helped Frazier to develop the bob and weave style that would maximize Frazier’s strength, his toughness, endurance and ferocious left hook. Under Futch guidance, Frazier became the recognized champion during Ali’s absence in the late 60’s. He put an exclamation point when he beat Jimmy Ellis before meeting Ali.
Ken Norton was another student of Futch. A former Marine who picked up fighting while serving in the military, Norton came to the boxing game late. A good athlete, Norton had the raw talent to be a good prizefighter but it took Futch being in his corner to develop that talent. Futch was in Norton's corner when Norton confronted Ali. Norton proved tougher for Ali than even Frazier. While the Frazier-Ali fights were wars, Norton-Ali proved to be chess match in which the pressing Norton often trumped some of Ali’s best moves. Norton’s jab proved difficult for Ali to penetrate and his pressing style never allowed Ali to tee off on Norton.
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