The Fight Of The Century was the best of the Ali-Fraizer trilogy

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Boxing125, Jul 5, 2015.


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  1. Boxing125

    Boxing125 Active Member Full Member

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    Why do so many people think the thrilla in manilla was the greatest heavyweight fight of all time? I'll tell you why its because the media and fight fans generally love Ali.Do you think we would still be lauding this fight in such glowing terms if it was Ali who was not allowed to come out for the 15th round and Frazier was the victor?

    I still think it was a great fight, a brutal contest in harsh conditions and both guys were pushed to the limit physically and at times spiritually and both boxers were never the same afterwards. I believe it to be one of the top 10 heavyweight championship contests of all time.

    However, what gets overlooked when people mention the greatest ever fights is the first Ali-Fraizer fight four years earlier and it was a better fight. There has never been a fight that generated such interest around the world, including the recent Mayweather bout. The difference being that the fight surpassed the hype This was a fight between two undefeated heavyweight champions. Fraizer fought the fight of his life that night at his peak ( by the time he fought in Manilla he was blind in one eye and had arthritis in his left shoulder which took away the pace and power of his left hook) and im pretty sure that it was because he convincingly beat Ali that people forget what an incredible contest their first fight was. The opening five rounds are in my opinion the greatest opening rounds to a heavyweight contest in the history of the sport. The fight had superior skill and pace to it and it was of a much higher standard than the Thrilla. Every time I watch the fight of the century I see something new although the film quality from the fight is quite poor.

    The bottom line is that the fight doesn't enchance Ali's legacy as much as the Thrilla and people love Ali.
     
    Boxing125, Jul 5, 2015
    Boxing125, Jul 5, 2015
    #1
  2. Vince Voltage

    Vince Voltage Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I fully agree. The Thrilla was a sloppy, wrestling match to me. The first fight had both men at their best, and a good referee letting them fight. It was much cleaner, more dramatic, and because of the knockdown there was no way they could screw Frazier and give it to Ali.
     
    Vince Voltage, Jul 5, 2015
    Vince Voltage, Jul 5, 2015
    #2
  3. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I agree. I was at that FOTC and the electricity in the air before the fight was
    "electrifying" to say the least. And the fight itself pitted two undefeated heavyweights at their bests. Frazier was never the same after this fight and
    this first fight was the last of his peak....Every fighter reaches a peak sometimes in their career, and then the slide downhill occurs where they lose their reflexes little by little... As the true "greatest" Joe Louis once said." I see the target, but by the time I pull the trigger, it is too late "...
     
    burt bienstock, Jul 5, 2015
    burt bienstock, Jul 5, 2015
    #3
  4. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    The FOTC is my favorite all time. I agree that it is given short shrift because the media chose sides and didn't like the outcome. I also think that it included one the versions of Ali. The competition simply was catching up to him. The pace, skill and heart displayed both is unequaled.
     
    Nighttrain, Jul 5, 2015
    Nighttrain, Jul 5, 2015
    #4
  5. Entaowed

    Entaowed Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    No, Ali was faster, especially of foot, & had better endurance in the '60's. Could dance longer.
    And was better due to being less rusty '72-'74.

    The only competition that "caught up" was Frazier at his peak.Then Foreman emerged & a post-peak Ali managed to pull a tremendous victory off.
     
    Entaowed, Jul 5, 2015
    Entaowed, Jul 5, 2015
    #5
  6. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    People like Manilla because Ali won. Fotc is the better fight with a peak Frazier and a better Ali than Manilla by a lot.
     
    The Long Count, Jul 5, 2015
    The Long Count, Jul 5, 2015
    #6
  7. RockyJim

    RockyJim Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The FOTC on March 8, 1971 is the biggest fight of my lifetime...
     
    RockyJim, Jul 6, 2015
    RockyJim, Jul 6, 2015
    #7
  8. ribtickler68

    ribtickler68 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I completely agree with the OP. By far the best technical fight of the 3, and both guys were great on the same night in different ways. They delivered.
     
    ribtickler68, Jul 6, 2015
    ribtickler68, Jul 6, 2015
    #8
  9. slender4

    slender4 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    ...and water is wet.
     
    slender4, Jul 6, 2015
    slender4, Jul 6, 2015
    #9
  10. Boxing125

    Boxing125 Active Member Full Member

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    It really annoys me when I hear people state that in the Thrilla in Manilla fight they were fighting for the heavyweight championship of each other. Technically it was one win each but the second fight had far less significance than the first - it was a non world title fight over 12 rounds and was basically an elimination bout to see who would fight George Foreman next for the title. It was also a poor fight compared to the first with Ali constantly using spoiling tactics and not being warned by the ref.
     
    Boxing125, Jul 6, 2015
    Boxing125, Jul 6, 2015
    #10
  11. Skins

    Skins Boxing Addict Full Member

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    FOTC is always my favorite. Biggest sporting event ever (still is) The electricity leading up to the fight was just unbelievable, unlike recent "FOTC's" Great back and forth fight, the Garden as the backdrop, just doesn't get any better. Love the Thrilla too. What stands out for me in that fight is the sheer amount of punches that Ali threw. Don't know the punch stats, but Ali must have thrown more punches in this fight than in any of his other ones by far. Was ripping off 20 and 25 punch combinations which I never saw him do in any other fight. Must have hit Joe 1000 times in this fight (maybe exaggerating a bit but you get the point) Still, I give the slight edge to FOTC
     
    Skins, Jul 6, 2015
    Skins, Jul 6, 2015
    #11
  12. AREA 53

    AREA 53 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I remember the Fight of the century as if it was yesterday, as has been stated the buildup was incredible, given that their was no internet fewer Tv Channels, and you had to go out to a Cinema to see the fight, if you could get a ticket, The West, Eastern Europe and the Communists, The Middle East, Africa, Asia, The whole damn world was looking in Via Satellite links, News stations added an extra Big Fight news update, from old men in Barbers shops to young school kids sparring in the school playgrounds, from those welcoming the return of the Verbose Prodigal son, to those wanting to see a Draft Dodger get his....

    I remember after Quarry and Bonavena we had all reacquainted with Clay/Ali But Joe Frazier to the vast majority, especially overseas was something of a Party of the second Part... But then the News reviews kept replaying his Flattening og Jimmy Ellis... and his near decapitation of Bob Foster... and his Sparring, as on scribe put it, like a Rhino battering his way through the bush.. Bobbing and Jinking ..Ripping and Snorting... two undefeated champions, diametrically opposed to each other in Style and personality...

    It was we knew something special... something potentially very special... and it lived up to its potential....

    When i kept reading about 'Fuss' and Ballyhoo being made about the
    Points scavenger Mayweather vs Pacified Part Time Politician Manny Pacq fight i could only shake my head sadness ... The Snake-oil saleman Live !
     
    AREA 53, Jul 6, 2015
    AREA 53, Jul 6, 2015
    #12
  13. Mr Butt

    Mr Butt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yep FOTC was the best fight of the three
     
    Mr Butt, Jul 6, 2015
    Mr Butt, Jul 6, 2015
    #13
  14. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Well,I've always been a BIG Ali fan. He's my favourite boxer ever but I happen to agree with you that Muhammad and Joe's FIRST battle was the best out of the three. Just as ferocious as Manilla but better technically.
     
    Stevie G, Jul 6, 2015
    Stevie G, Jul 6, 2015
    #14
  15. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Not forgetting Tony Perez' brief bout of Tinnitus during the second round ;)
     
    Stevie G, Jul 6, 2015
    Stevie G, Jul 6, 2015
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