Ali weight training for 1975 Thrilla in Manila

Hmmm, he was a similar weight to what he'd been in his previous 3 fights. Not sure.

 

I read something similar, with absolutely no evidence ... Ali wasn't a believer in weights for fighters, Dundee wasn't a believer in weights for fighters; for one of the most photographed boxers of all time, I've never seen a picture of Ali with a barbell or dumbbell. As with all things, I'd never say never, but I'd be frankly surprised if it ever happened. If anything, he was convinced he could put Frazier away early simply because he'd thought Frazier was, in Ali's own words, "washed up"

 

Ive read every book i could on Ali and never heard of that.
I always had the feeling Ali took the training for that fight too lightly.He believed Joe was washed up.
Frazier had serious health issues for a fighter.These had been hushed up ( almost blind in one eye and high blood pressure issues). After he won the title in 71 Fraziers manager wanted him to retire.Joe didnt want too. The compromise was a couple of soft defences in 72 which bought them some time . They then ran into Foreman and Joe's health issues also didnt go away.
By 75 Joe shouldnt really have been fighting but his obsession with Ali helped him to one last supreme effort.
I think its a sad fight as it damaged them both further.
Im clearly judging with hindsight but it has a pointlessness to it for me personally.
Its a fight i cant take any pleasure in watching, just a personal thing.

 

I'm pretty sure he mentions it in his autobiography There Greatest: My Own Story. It's on why he didn't move as much in the fight, he says it has to do with training with weights.

 

Ali was in supreme condition for Frazier 3. He said so himself a few minutes after the bout ended. His announced weight was from thevweigh in 4-5 days prior to the bout. Both Ali and Frazier came into the ring lighter than those announced weights. I visited Deer

 

I visited Deer Lake during that time, numerous times, and I never saw Ali lift any weights.

 

Agree ... it's one of those I can only watch every few years or so; when you hear about the conditions (temps in the ring were estimated to be near 100 degrees), plus the relentless beating that each man inflicted on the other, and the fact neither was ever quite the same afterwards, and there's no real entertainment. No superb ring generalship, no skills, just two men determined not to take a step back ... somebody wrote they were fighting for the championship of each other. Thank God Eddie Futch had the integrity to call it when he did; Frazier would have died in the ring, he had that kind of heart.

 

Ali did say that he concentrated on power punching more than usual for his third fight with Frazier but did n't mention anything about weights.

 

Futch is on record saying the eyesight stories are total B.S.

 

As I remember it, yes. The memory seems clear to me, but it must be close to 30 years ago since I read the book...

 

He references what he tells reporters after the fight. It's about the question why he didn't move more.

 

Once of the best photos of Ali in incredible shape is when he is standing over Liston after the knockdown.
You can see why Liston was thinking "maybe I shouldn't get up".