Frazier at points was effortlessly dodging Ali's punches whilst clowning him. This is the fastest HW of all time who is the mac daddy of clowning people. Joe Frazier is a ****ing legend.
Joe Frazier holds a special place in boxing for me. I saw him lose to Buster Mathis in the Olympics Finals in 1964. Forward to March 8,1971, FOTC in MSG,where I saw him whip Ali, in the most exciting Boxing event in my lifetime. Joe to me was more than a fighter, he was a gladiator...
Many of the Ali fans were only "hoping" he could beat Joe the night of the FOTC. Frazier at that point was the one considered to be unbeatable.
Ali did not have the fastest hands at hw. Those belong to Patterson. Ali had the fastest feet though but not at ´71 anymore. Still, he never would have beaten Frazier back then. This was Joe´s night. A very special one.
Joe Frazier's reputation..which has suffered unjustly in recent years, is partly because of the force-feeding on ESPN classic of the "Thrilla" fight...and even repeated showings in between of the 2nd fight. A massive transfusion of the FOTC on that channel should be mandatory as an antidote. FOTC was a GREAT epic for Joe Frazier and should be more of a standard of judgement of his ring accomplishments.
No doubt it was his once in a lifetime, his Toledo Dempsey, his Montreal Duran, Baer Louis, the fight that cements you from just being a good HW with a couple good contenders and ex champs to a definite legend.
No doubt! Joe was brilliant that night, brilliant, but remember it takes 2 to make a great fight. Ali played his part too.
i wish he was fighting the in top shape superhuman reflex, pinpoint timing terrell version and ali coulda been the one taking the ****
Come on now, Peak-for-Peak, Frazier-Ali is an extremely close war, in which both give each other absolute hell, regardless of the victor.