Ali-Frazier I scorecards: 11-4!?!

What was your RBR?

 

Hi Buddy.
We are as one, I have been tilting at windmills for 5 years.
stay safe ct, chat soon.

 

Round 1: Ali
Round 2: Ali
Round 3: Frazier
Round 4: Even
Round 5: Ali
Round 6: Frazier
Round 7: Frazier
Round 8: Frazier
Round 9: Ali
Round 10: Frazier
Round 11: Frazier
Round 12: Frazier
Round 13: Frazier
Round 14: Ali
Round 15: Frazier

9-5-1 Frazier
145-140 if it’s under the 10 point must system

 

100% agree--the fight was close. I'm in agreement with 8-6-1 for "Smokin Joe."

 

Ali beats anybody else in HW history that night--I honestly believe that!! His performance after a 3 and 1/2 year layoff with essentially only 1 tough tuneup fight (the Quarry fight was stopped very early) was extraordinary!!

 

Oddly I think Ali was still rusty. 3 1/2 is a long time and his body changed. Actually once recovered from this in his next fight was maybe the best I ever saw Ali in part 2 of his career. The next fight he fought Ellis and really toyed with him though Ellis at that time was a very good fighter. He just wasn’t big enough to deal with a newer bigger heavyweight.
Ali was bigger then before the layoff but in this match he showed most of the old speed and elan.

 

Think I had it 8-7 for Frazier last time I scored it.

1-4, 9-10 and 14 Ali. The rest Frazier.

So, close round by round, but since Frazier had at least one 10-8 round by today's scoring, I don't feel there's any doubt that he fairly won it.

 

Ali looked very sharp in the first 8 minutes especially. He showed some moves that was as good as anything he ever did.

He started to tire late in the third, but still had enough left to win the fourth imo After that Frazier clearly had the momentum.

 

I mostly agree with what you said except I gave Frazier round 3 and I gave Ali round 5.

Apart from that I'm in total agreement.

BTW does anyone else score the 11th round 10-8 ? To me that's a clear 10-8 round even without a knockdown IMO.



Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier 1

1 Ali
2 Ali
3 Frazier
4 Ali
5 Ali
6 Frazier
7 Frazier
8 Frazier
9 Ali
10 Ali
11 Frazier 10-8
12 Frazier
13 Frazier
14 Ali
15 Frazier 10-8

143-140 Frazier in rounds 8-7 Frazier

 

UPI had it 7-7-1. Larry Merchant scored it for Ali. His rationale was interesting . He said if you scored it round by round Ali won. If you scored it as a piece Frazier won.

 

My scorecard for Joe Frazier Vs Muhammad Ali 1971

1. Ali
2. Ali
3. Ali
4. Draw
5. Frazier
6.Frazier
7. Frazier.
8. Frazier
9. Ali (close round)
10. Ali
11. Frazier
12. Frazier
13. Frazier (close round)
14. Ali
15. Frazier

8-6 (1)

Close and competitive fight an unequivocal win for Fraizer.

 

The 9th round may be one of if not the greatest round they ever fought. Ali won the round with a spectacular flurry at the end of the round. He hurt Frazier with those hooks. This was the first time in the fight he hurt Joe and backed him up.
Just before that Frazier had Ali closer to being stopped than at any point before the 15th. Ali got caught with a short lefthook just as he was bringing his head up. It landed on the point of his chin.

This was about as hurt as I've seen Ali. All he could do for about a minute or so was flounder along the ropes and take punishment. It was looking like maybe the end with Don Dunphy saying "Ali's in real trouble now".
Ali was able to catch Joe with that incredible combination. That was one of the greatest things I've seen in sports. To be that hurt and turn it around in an instant to rock a guy that was looking like a tank at the time. Legendary stuff.

 

One can well argue about what is the proper scoring for this fight but one thing is not in doubt, Joe Frazier whipped his azz ..

 

I remember it being very clear for Frazier with a lot of talk that Ali built up a big lead that I didn't believe he'd done. I remember one later round where Ali temporarily flipped the script of how I thought it was going and gave Frazier a hiding but most of the fight I thought was decisively handled by Joe. I never felt it was close like with the Norton/Ali fights.

 

Bill's perception was insane! Yes,Frazier deserved the verdict on that night but it was a competitive war.