Tell me about Ali-Frazier II.

I noticed Joe footspeed seemed slower. I contributed it to age, but that's an interesting theory/point I never really heard of. Good be, but Joe was still hittable. So I think it didn't pay off...

 

I think what happened was that Perez thought he heard a bell for the end of round2 and more or less saved joe from maybe being stopped,or at least taken a lot of punishment as only 2mins had elapsed. I think joe was hurt and that the other minute that ali was prevented from having, could have possibly made this a quick night.

Apart from that, and a good 7th for frazier, ali cantered it. No controversy at all. I think it gets a poor press as its compared to 1 and 3 which,in the grander scheme of things, is nothing to be ashamed about

 

I just reviewed Cosell's call of that action on ABC, which showed a good angle of the right Muhammad staggered him with. That shot was landed with 30 seconds left in the round. Through another ten seconds of action before Perez intervened, Joe covered up well, and bobbed and weaved vigorously as he retreated into a neutral corner, firing off a hook in the process of moving away. Ali pursued him cautiously, looking to sharpshoot, but he didn't score another shot like that first stunner. All his follow up punches were blocked. When they were broken up, Frazier immediately turned towards his corner with a little hop and skip. His coordination and orientation did not appear to be at all impaired.

I stand by my earlier opinion that Muhammad was neither going to floor him or stop him in an uninterrupted 30 seconds of action. Joe was secure in the corner, bobbing defensively and with head well concealed behind his guard. In fact, I'm not convinced that Ali would have even been able to produce a 10-8 round on the ten point must scoring system without the referee's mistake. Beyond that first right, his aggression would not have been effective with Frazier's guard in the way.

 

I don't think that had any real bearing for the outcome of the fight, either, but it would have been interesting to see how Joe would have fared backed in a corner for 20 seconds. That wasn't a place he was comfortable in. Ali backed him to the ropes in Manilla, but never in a corner.

 

It would indeed have been very interesting. Ali was posturing, looking for an opening like he did right before he dispatched a cornered Brian London, in what I think may have been the most impressive single burst of offense in his career. But Joe was certainly no psyched out and overmatched London, and he was already well acquainted with Muhammad's abilities. As you say, the corner was a unique place for him to find himself in against this particular opponent, and it's unfortunate that Perez interfered with the action, but it looked to me as though Joe was prepared to manage and weather this anomaly.

 

Was it 30 seconds? i stand corrected. i thought it was just after the 2minute mark. Havent seen it in a good while so i'll take your word on it