Ali-Frazier III. What if ...?

[KiwiCC]

This has probably been raised in the past, if so I apologize, but ...
If Ali-Frazier III had been a 12 round fight - what would have happened?

[Vince Voltage]

Well, we'd have to check the available scorecards to be sure. I believe Ali was officially ahead but don't know what the cards would say. My guess is Ali would take a majority decsion.

[Vince Voltage]

You can look right on boxrec.com and see that after 14 Ali was up by 4, 5, and 6 points. So after twelve he was probably by two, three, and 4.

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I don't like Ali at all, in case you guys haven't noticed, but this was the one fight in the trilogy in which I feel he won handily and that it wasn't really as close as people make it out to be. Ali didn't clinch or wrestle either, to his credit, just outpunched Joe at least two to one. I hated to see it, but I have to give Ali credit. Frazier didn't deserve the decision after twelve, not this time.

[JWSoats]

By my very unofficial score, I had Frazier slightly ahead after 12 rounds in Manila. The official score I recall being more lopsided in favor of Ali after 14, so Ali may have been ahead after 12 as well. But had the fight been scheduled for 12 rounds, both fighters would have trained differently and paced themselves accordingly. By 1975 Joe Frazier really couldn't go 15 rounds at top speed as he had in 1971, and I believe the excessive heat at ringside drained him more than it did Ali. Had the fight been scheduled for 12 rounds and in a cooler arena, I would give Joe a good shot at winning.

[Stevie G]

Originally Posted by JWSoats

By my very unofficial score, I had Frazier slightly ahead after 12 rounds in Manila. The official score I recall being more lopsided in favor of Ali after 14, so Ali may have been ahead after 12 as well. But had the fight been scheduled for 12 rounds, both fighters would have trained differently and paced themselves accordingly. By 1975 Joe Frazier really couldn't go 15 rounds at top speed as he had in 1971, and I believe the excessive heat at ringside drained him more than it did Ali. Had the fight been scheduled for 12 rounds and in a cooler arena, I would give Joe a good shot at winning.

What is it about Muhammad Ali and fights in hot weather ? One or two always state that the heat in Zaire helped Ali win the Foreman fight,and now there's a comment claiming that a cooler temperature in Manilla may have aided Frazier's chances of victory.

ALI DID N'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING IN HIS CORNER EITHER !

[Stevie G]

A twelve rounder in Manilla would have resulted in an Ali points win,imo.

[JWSoats]

Originally Posted by Stevie G

What is it about Muhammad Ali and fights in hot weather ? One or two always state that the heat in Zaire helped Ali win the Foreman fight,and now there's a comment claiming that a cooler temperature in Manilla may have aided Frazier's chances of victory.

ALI DID N'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING IN HIS CORNER EITHER !

True, but Frazier's style was much more physical than Ali's. Ali's boxing style was such that he could make more efficient use of his energy and more easliy grab a breather when he needed to, either in a clinch or against the ropes. Frazier's output of energy was always on the high end and even in his Bonavena II and FOTC battles he was quite tired at the end. Ali always seemed to handle heat well - his Indonesia fight with Bugner a case in point.

[Stevie G]

Originally Posted by JWSoats

True, but Frazier's style was much more physical than Ali's. Ali's boxing style was such that he could make more efficient use of his energy and more easliy grab a breather when he needed to, either in a clinch or against the ropes. Frazier's output of energy was always on the high end and even in his Bonavena II and FOTC battles he was quite tired at the end. Ali always seemed to handle heat well - his Indonesia fight with Bugner a case in point.

Good point ! It was Malaysia,actually,that Muhammad fought Joe. Rudi Lubbers was his opponent in Indonesia.

[mhubbard]

The fight would have been close. Ali took the early rounds and Frazier came back in the later rounds. I would still have Ali winning by decision. It would have been a repeat of Ali v Frazier II.

[johnmaff36]

ali was ahead after 12 rounds in my book, therefore id go for pts UD

[orriray59]

I'll have to look back on this fight and find out for myself.

[KiwiCC]

Originally Posted by orriray59

I'll have to look back on this fight and find out for myself.

Me too, but I recall reading somewhere that Ali won rounds 1-4 or 5 (incl), Frazier won 5 or 6 - 11 (incl) which must have put it close to a draw? Thanks for the boxrec link, I'll look it up. I've also heard that Ali hadn't trained properly for the fight, believing that Frazier was washed-up. If that is the case, then I think Ali would have won easily, and not taken so much punishment, if he'd been in better condition. Frazier's best was behind him, but it was a helluva fight anyway!

[McGrain]

"Not close enough, Smoke."

Joe wouldn't win enough rounds at that point unless he made a faster start, which is not impossible, but not what I would bet on.

[MagnaNasakki]

Rewatched this fight on a whim a couple nights ago.

It was hell on both men, but man, Ali beat Joe's ass in this one. Has there ever been a fighter who staggered and gritted his teeth through a more substantial, constant beating than Frazier did in this fight?

Talk about bravery. Ali was punching to hurt, and didn't miss too much in this fight. I bet punch stands would have given Muhammad a crazy accuracy percentage.

Joe Frazier was one of the bravest, toughest SOB's ever.

[groove]

possibly my favourite fight of all time. they both gave everything and far much more. it is defo underrated on this board anyway