Anyone ever read this???

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

A lot of times u hear people talking about how Frazier gave Ali a ride to NYC from Philadelphia years ago...many have mentioned it in posts, etc...it really did happen, it's in Ali's book (The Greatest)...I first read it when I was 11 years old...and in the book Ali had taped their whole conversation (it was before their first fight) and the whole text is in the book...every word...FASCINATING STUFF really...has anyone elese ever seen it???

[uoykcuf]

I forget the Ali movie a bit, but didn't Frazier(james toney) drive Ali in a car and talk to him in that movie about something?

[Larry the boss]

They were friends and were close.but once ali got his license back they became rivals so the friendship went out the door,even tho they never hated each other or wanted to really hurt each other"outside"of the ring.you could tell the stuff ali said really really hurt joe deep he felt betrayed,used and crossed but they were never enemys but there was a lot of hurt and mistrust involved with them.they had a love and hate relationship

[stickandmove12]

I forget the Ali movie a bit, but didn't Frazier(james toney) drive Ali in a car and talk to him in that movie about something?

You are right. I'm not sure what they were talking about either, but they were definitely on friendly terms.

Most of the time to sell a fight you need a hero and villain. The classic good versus evil. You have to choose and side. Ali knew this all too well.

[Larry the boss]

I forget the Ali movie a bit, but didn't Frazier(james toney) drive Ali in a car and talk to him in that movie about something?

yea they talk about his license and at the end he ask ali if he needed any money

[stickandmove12]

I could not find one with dialog, but I think this is the scene you were talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp-j_D4EC5k

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

once and for all people need to realize, THEY WERE NOT CLOSE...they were not good buddies...they didnt hang out etc etc etc...the reason they were in the car together was because Ali wasnt planning on fighting again, he was going to do a book about his life and he wanted to interview Joe for it...but they didnt eat dinner together, talk on the phone, hang out etc...anyway, they meet up and they got in the car and talked, Ali recorded it...they started talking what would have happened IF THEY HAD FOUGHT and they both gave their view (its GREAT STUFF by the way)...the conversation is AMAZING, very interesting, they talk about females, boxing, opponents, etc etc)...

[RA-Box]

"Damn Joe, You look like the heavy-weight champion..of pimps"

That was a good scene.

[stickandmove12]

once and for all people need to realize, THEY WERE NOT CLOSE...they were not good buddies...they didnt hang out etc etc etc...the reason they were in the car together was because Ali wasnt planning on fighting again, he was going to do a book about his life and he wanted to interview Joe for it...but they didnt eat dinner together, talk on the phone, hang out etc...anyway, they meet up and they got in the car and talked, Ali recorded it...they started talking what would have happened IF THEY HAD FOUGHT and they both gave their view (its GREAT STUFF by the way)...the conversation is AMAZING, very interesting, they talk about females, boxing, opponents, etc etc)...

Is it possible their is a recording of this somewhere on the internet? If anyone could find a copy and share with the rest of boxing scene, green k could be in coming their way.

[Sugarj]

In Ali's imposed retirement he was advised to pen an autobiography.....which became 'The Greatest' by Richard Durham. This is the book, not the film of the same name.

I remember the book well and yes Ali did have the ride with Frazier, they were on friendly terms, Frazier did campaign to have Ali's licence returned.....and he leant him money too.

To be honest, I think they genuinely probably liked each other in a sort of competitive way early on. The problem became two fold:

1) Ali went too far with the insults: 'gorilla' and calling Frazier 'ugly' etc is one thing, but 'Uncle Tom', 'White Man's champion' and 'ignorant' was beyond fight promotion.

2) Frazier probably should have laughed off the lighter comments. Many of Ali's other opponents did. He took everything too much to heart and it made him genuinely bitter.