Ali vs Frazier 1. The score cards

They both beat the living daylights out of each other tbh...

 

I scored it 9-4-2 for Frazier.
Can't remember which rounds.
9-6 is the best I could give Ali.

Ali fought a great fight though, he was just getting nailed hard by big punches throughout, thudding punches.
Amazing that he came back so strong an active over the next couple of years.

Frazier was sublime that night.

 

Ali knew that Joe deserved the victory that night. He said so shortly after the fight. The bad decision thing later on was Muhammad campaigning for a rematch. He knew that it was going to be tough getting Joe back in the ring with him.

The real dream match between the two of them would be the Ali from the SECOND fight v Joe of the first.

 

With all due respect Stevie, the real dream match would have been the summer of 1971 and Ali not ignoring his camp and stepping in with Joe barely 90 days later after a 15 round tough as hell s**** with Bonavena.

The Ali of Frazier 2 had already had his jaw broken in the Norton fight.

 

Frazier fought like a man possessed...it was an all time great performance...enough to seal Frazier in as a HOF'er. There would have been nothing wrong at all if Frazier had retired after this bout IMO. That Joe Frazier from FOTC would disappear,...never to be seen again.

 

I have nothing but admiration for Muhammad Ali getting into the fray with Joe Frazier so soon after returning from his exile. Shame on the modern day cherry pickers who stall for years getting into the ring with the best...Ali shames Mayweather, Jones, et al,...

 

And full marks to Muhammad for taking on Quarry and Bonavena after all that time out. No soft touches for HIM !