If Prime Ali Fought Frazier.

It depends on what year, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his boxing license and title in April 1967 for refusing to enter the war in Vietnam. As posted before, Yank Durham did not want his fighter Joe Frazier in the ring against champion Muhammad Ali in 1967, even though Joe stated he could beat Ali several times. Yank said that his fighter was too green for Clay (Ali) and that his fighter needed more experience. I think that Ali would have out Joe for 15 rounds on his way to a successful title defense in 1967. But had Ali remained active, he would have gotten lazy and stale from his title defenses, the loss to Ali would have motivated Joe. Joe takes the title from Ali on March 8 1971 by unanimous decision. The third fight takes place on Jan 28 1974, after Ali defeats George Foreman in late 1973. Ali retains by a split decision.

 

Frazier probably stops him.

A rematch follows and Ali's career is effectively over about the same time he made his return from exile in reality.

Ali bested Frazier in their series because he returned just as Frazier's peak was coming to an end. Obviously Ali had a lot to do with end Frazier's prime. But Frazier style was never meant for longevity.

Most importantly, and Yank Durham said, Ali had out-grown Frazier.

People talking about 60's Ali being fast, but it's the size he brought to the ring in the 70's that truly made him great.

Young Ali was too scrawny to beat Frazier.

 

Ali did outgrow Frazier. But that was only one way to win.
Peak Ali was lean at 210-215. Hardly scrawny. In fact when he came back for the FOTC he only weighed 215-& was not lower body fat, maybe a bit more.

Ali being faster is one significant advantage. It was mainly much faster feet. He also could dance for 15 rounds.
Significantly greater speed & endurance is why most all agree Ali was better in the 1960's.
He became "greater" later because of his further accomplishments, several against better fighters.

But there is no reason to suspect that Ali should not be favored in the 1960's.
Frazier was still at his peak in FOTC.
Ali was both still rusty & never had all the gifts intact from before his exile.

 

I see it as being a more intense and competitive version of their second fight (more than it already was)

 

FOTC Frazier from March 8, 1971 would have been hell for any version of Ali. A boxer hates a "swarmer"...and Joe was one of the best ever!

 

Had Muhanmad and Joe fought each other ten times,then we would also have seen a tough,competitive bout ten times.

 

My thoughts exactly, I believe no version of Ali will beat Joe Frazier on that night.

 

In spite of the stylistic disadvantage, I believe that a Prime (1967) Muhammad Ali would beat Joe Frazier most times, by decisions and/or late stoppages. One of the top two heavyweight boxers of all time makes Muhammad Ali a super fighter in my book. And super fighters find a way to win most times.

 

There's no version of Frazier that beats a prime Ali.

 

Me too, from Ellis to FOTC, Frazier wins. I think Ali would have been more adroit and avoided more shots. I see a Frazier kd of Ali for sure, but ultimately I think this fight would have been a bit closer in the scoring.

 

FOTC Frazier beats any Ali.

 

Prime Ali by clear UD over FOTC Frazier with a fair chance of Joe being stopped in the later rounds.

 

Ali could win by a narrow SD but Frazier in FOTC would still b torment for him. I'd favor that version of Frazier to beat any Ali.

 

On July 10 1967 in our local newspaper, there was an article that had champion Muhammad Ali poking fun at unbeaten Joe Frazier. Ali laughed at the fact that Yank Durham did not allow his charge (Joe Frazier) to consider fighting him. According to Durham, he said : Joe Is Too Green For Professor Clay Right Now, He Needs More Experience. By the time of that article was posted, Ali had been recently stripped of his boxing license and title for refusing military induction into the U.S Armed Forces. Ali was convicted of Draft Evasion, a Federal Offense on June 20 1967, sentenced to 5 years in prison, fined $10,000.00 dollars, he appealed, staying out of prison while he litigated his conviction. It was a shrewd move by Durham to wait, not allow Frazier to enter the 1967 WBA Tournament to find a successor to recently convicted Ali. If Ali and Frazier had happened in 1967 after the second Patterson fight , Ali wins by unanimous decision. Ali had stamina, reflexes, footwork, speed and timing, not to mention ring activity. But as Durham stated, with more experience down the road, Frazier has the knowledge and experience to win. Remember on Sept 21 1966, Frazier was floored twice in the same round by Oscar Ringo Bonavena, Joe won a hotly disputed decision. On Sept 10 1966, Ali stopped European Champion Karl Mildenberger by TKO 12.