Why would it be overrated? For the time it was a great rivarly, and one of the top 10 best trilogies of all time. Frazier beating Ali and putting him down was one of the best highlights in sports history!
He also killed his ex-wife and another young fella who was returning her sunglasses...cut their throats, he did. He got acquitted because Ali used Everlast gloves and the glove at the scene was a Heyes. The glove didn't fit so they had to acquit....damn shame the lady got no justice. But Ali did some good stuff too. I'm pretty sure that he paid for Iron Mike's funeral.
No. Ali wasn't "3 years out of the ring" he had two fights with heavyweight contenders in 1970. And Ali was just age 29. Compare this to Vitali Klitschko's coming back at age 37 after 4 years out of the ring, and completely dominating a very strong WBC champion.
Later in life Frazier was asked about Ali's terrible health, his slurred speech and trembling. He gave a medical opinion , Joe said,," he's got Joe Frazieritis"
This..IMHO Frazier would have never caught up with the version of Ali that beat Liston,Williams and the likes..the fluidity of movement would have had Smokin Joe swinging at air all night..and the flurries would have remodelled his face..still took a beating in that fight Joe did. All that said..the sustained beating Joe put on Ali that night is nothing short of amazing..for my money still the greatest single win in HW history.
Ali had a stern test vs Bonavena for 15 rounds, that was plenty of enough warm up for coming back. Along with another impressive performance over another top contender Quarry. Frazier deserves more credit, it was an amazing performance. And you could say Frazier declined after this fight, and never reached those heights again, like he had in their 1st meeting. It's not like 60s version of Ali was invincible, he had a few shaky moments vs Mildenberger, Jones, Cooper, Banks, etc.
No, it was clear Ali was a lot easier to hit in those fights, he had lost a step or too and wa relying on his incredible chin.