Ali / Frazier Relationship

That is two different things. As a fighter Joe always respected Ali. They both were legendary warriors. It's the out of the ring low blows Ali took that are the issue. You have death threats, kids getting taunted at school, politics etc. Ali needed or felt he needed to rally people to his side to his side to diminish Frazier.
We can't dismiss the death threats as just a prank. The Nation of Islam proved it's brutality more than once. Ali had a crazy ass cult behind him.

 

Frazier was fairly consistent about his animosity toward Ali, for decades after they fought. And who can blame him? Ali disingenuously attacked him in the most classless manner possible and demeaned him with nasty racial slurs (after accepting Frazier's charity and support). Disgusting behavior on Ali's part.

 

I'll punch anyone for a few quid

 

Joe was lying

 

It is possible that he disliked him as a person, but respected his physical courage.

 

Very true

 

I think Frazier's hatred of Ali intensified over the years. I remember hearing someone say that 'Ali has been living rent-free in Joe's head for 30 years' and I think that sums it up perfectly.
The more Frazier reflected on Ali, the more of a problem it became, the more he hated him and he reflected on it ALL THE TIME.

I also think a lot of it stems from frustration at not punishing Ali the way he wanted in Manila - i.e. he lost.

I really believe that if Frazier had won their third fight, his dislike of Ali wouldn't have been the all-consuming issue that it became.

 

Why would he lie They were two warriors that had the utmost respect for each other

 

It don't look good running someone down, he obviously to me was telling people what they wanted to hear..Frazier didn't like Ali for good reason, they were polar opposites. Frazier was as pure a man and fighter you will come across ever, the kind of personality that auto dislikes a character like Ali.. I think Joe tried to like him and made an effort but Ali was to shallow of a man to appreciate that !

 

It wasn't a fairy tale, the hate was real, and maybe watching Ali stumbling around helped Joe to cope some

 

Course he was lying. Why would anyone say that in a war, in a foxhole fighting for his life, he would want a draft dodger in there with him?

He would have said his good friend and real fighting man, Norton instead of a man who he disliked and couldn’t trust.

 

Thank You..Be a nice fairy tale ending that would pls some fans, but reality is, Joe hoped Ali's condition was a direct result of him..

 

Joe was not lying he was being honest
Anyway Ali was no draft dodger he was a concientous objector, his religion would not permit him to join the army
You call him a draft dodger what about the honorable William Jefferson Clinton ?? He bailed out to avoid service & fled to England. I was there at the time & remember it well. Clinton's punishment?? You made him PRESIDENT !!!! Ali stayed right here & faced the music. He didnt run
Yes Ali went too far in his jibes about Joe, Joe's children suffered badly other kids saying their Daddy was a gorilla etc
Ali was selling the fight but went too far. Remember Ali had names for all his opponents. Foreman=The Mummy
Patterson=The Rabbit, The Old Washerwoman etc Ali regretted it & apologised to Joe maybe too little too late

 

I know Joe said that like he said when Ali lit the Olympic flame that he would like to push him in the flames. He mentioned that too & said he didnt really mean it

 

He was nasty with Frazier, Joe wasn't as quick witted as him so he took the ****..Frazier always had the FOTC over Ali though, that must of helped ease some of it..I think both at their best Frazier gets the nod too