I've just had another look at round 11. I don't see any point where Ali is in trouble, let alone serious trouble. Ali's round on my scorecard.
Look again. It’s there. Ali was badly hurt, held hard, and then exploded with right hands. Frazier then came on again in the end. It’s Fraziers round if you realize Ali looks flashy but Joe is doing all the work.
That's a great post. It occurred to me recently that a whole generation have grown up now not knowing much about Ali etc.... it's like when I was a kid watching those fights , Joe Louis meant nothing to me , but older people told me how great he was ... same for our generation with Ali... we just gettin older ! The Manila fight always struck me as 2 guys past their best but such was the rivalry ... I think it was Thomas Hauser who said, they could've fought once a month for the rest of their lives and it would always be close...it was like the Heavyweight championship of each other . What younger people cannot comprehend is how big a heavyweight title fight was back then...they didnt call it the biggest prize in sport for nothing.
I did look again and I don't see any sign of Ali being badly hurt or in trouble at any point during the round. I also looked at the eyeonthering website and of 28 people who posted their scorecard of the Thrilla in Manila, 23 gave Ali the 11th round and only 4 gave it to Frazier. So maybe you're just wrong.
Look again. Ali was very good at not showing when he is hurt. Joe landed a short hook to the head just after landing the same blow to the body. Ali cowers and Joe tees off with both hands. Ali dodges a few and Joe smartly lands several hard hooks to Ali’s arms/shoulders. Ali then grabs Joe as if his life depended on it.
Massively over rated by boxing journalists who really brought into Ali's personality and hype. Those same boxing journalists who over hyped Ali, like Colin Hart are either retired or approaching retirement.
This is especially pertinent when we discuss Cosell, who was a sickening ball-hugger. Dundee started ignoring him in the corner after awhile, for damn good reason.
If you watch the round and specifically that sequence Ali was definitely hurt. Ali flurried for a good 45 seconds afterwards but this did not negate all the work Frazier put in before and after. This fight was also one of the worst scored bouts ever. Judges were way off.
Whatever you think about the journalists the fight is simply not overrated, especially not massively. You’re talking bollocks.
There may be grounds for calling Ali overhyped...but that doesn't take away from the fact that he beat all those in-their-prime heavyweights. His victory over a best-ever Foreman alone is devastating...I'd be shocked to see much argument over that. And that's forgetting too many great victories for me to remember right now. His complete, miracle-level control of the division in the 60s is mandatory viewing for an boxer aspiring to greatness imo. Again, I shouldn't seem like I'm defending Ali...he (more than perhaps any fighter) doesn't need it.
Never saw a crowd roar EVER for any bout I ever witnessed like THIS bout. Any thought that it was overrated is only a reflection of the individuals ignorance of the sport. Lots of infighting going on so one needs to know what they are watching to come to a valid conclusion.
I'm not sure what point you're making here. Ali retired 38 years ago so any journalist around at the time would either be retired or approaching retirement now.
It’s incredible to me that those that are young question Ali’s greatness. This can only be centered upon ignorance of the historical record/details. Ali beat several fighters that at that time were considered unbeatable. Liston and Foreman. It cannot be overstated the worldwide surprise of these victories. Few gave Ali any chance. Going by history Ali should have been knocked out by Foreman. Here you had the most powerful hwt ever to live in his absolute prime vs an older past prime former hwt champion. Yet Ali dominated. Add to this his victories over Frazier, Norton, Shavers, Patterson, Ellis, Lyle, In terms of level of opposition no one comes close.
