Ali lost a decision to Trevor just a few days after Joe huffed and puffed his way to a gift draw vs prison muscleman Jumbo. But which version is better, the Ali of his last fight or the Frazier of his finale, as ignominious as those bouts were? If they had fought each other instead, over 10 rounds, at that time, who wins?
I've never seen Frazier vs Cummings but by all accounts Frazier got a gift decision and looked pretty bad. I've seen Ali vs Berbick and whilst Ali did clearly lose he did make it competitive and won atleast 3 rounds in my opinion. I'd say Ali was probably better vs Berbick so I'd favour him by decision.
Frazier, to put it bluntly, wanted to kill Muhammad Ali. He would have found some motivation for one last go-round with the great one.
Ali had been more active than Fraizer who had retired after the Foreman rematch in 1976 overall up until 1981 so he wins on that front.
Ali was sick I think Frazier may have had a little more left in the tank. He takes a sloppy decision.
1981 Frazier beats 1981 Ali. Ali would miss everything. He had no accuracy left. He even closed his eyes most of the time he threw punches, at that point. Frazier might have even stopped him late. Berbick was a little intimidated. Frazier would've viewed it as an opportunity to hit Ali at will with Ali not being able to escape.
Ali deserved the decision against Berbick which says legions about what he had left in the tank. It is criminal that he wasn't allowed to continue his career and face Weaver, Smith, Tubbs, Tucker, even Tyson, possibly even Lewis. He would have many more straps to his name and a legacy that was unapproachable.
Ali wins a decision in a fight that only someone who is clinically insane or a sadist would want to see.