How does it affect Frazier's performance in FOTC and Manila if Ali is really nice to him?

I think it makes a huge difference. Leonard who studied Ali went out of his way not to antagonize Hagler. Professional athletes are always looking for additional motivation and Ali provided it. I love Ali but some of the things he did and said to Frazier make me cringe. Even heroes have a dark side. Bill Russell always used to take Wilt Chamberlain out to dinner when his teams played the Celtics. Sportswriters who look back on that rivalry muse that it might of have been Bill Russell 's way of pacifying him

 

I've always said, put an Ali mask on foreman and Smokin' Joe's chance to win grows, at least a little bit.

 

Well we saw how shavers hesitated to follow up on Ali and really go for it. This was because Ali had really helped him out and let him use Ali's gym to train, on top of the fact Shavers said Ali was genuinely nice to be around.

Something similar could happen to Frazier. What's interesting is during Ali's exile, the two of them were seen hanging out in NY cracking jokes and having a good time before the bad blood started.

If they fought, it might look more like a glorified sparring match with neither guy putting a whole lot on their punches. I've seen it happen before where two friends have a match and the crowd is unimpressed because they can tell both guys are holding something back. This was also the reason Frazier and Norton never had a match and said they wouldn't unless they had no choice.

 

Joe had a job to do regardless, he wanted to prove he was the best going at that time. The real personal stufff which led to deaththreats and all that probably didnt motivate him any more than he already was. Im sure it stressed him out and may have shaken a weaker man. FYI Joe Frazier wasnt a weaker man.

 

Same with Bugner who was a sparring partner for Ali. If you watch their first fight he goes over to hug Ali and his manager pulled him away.

 

The fights would have panned out the same. Both Muhammad and Joe were ultra competitive and they knew that the only way to win against each other was to go all out.
They may well have become best buddies after they retired had it not been for Ali stoking up the politics between them.

 

I’ll admit, I’ve been one of those people who has said previously that Frazier’s hatred of Ali probably fuelled Joe’s performance and resolve to win.

But I guess that doesn’t hold if you afford Frazier 100% commitment, heart and application for each and every fight over the course of his career anyway - and I do afford Joe that. Tbh, Joe was such a beast it might’ve appeared that all of his opponents had wronged him personally. LOL.

I think what Ali put to him in the ring simply pushed Joe further into displaying the even greater, yet to be fully tapped, potentials of his heart, commitment and unconditional drive to win. However, that it was Ali he was thumping probably gave Joe that much more pleasure in duly plying his trade. : ).