Biggest achievement Frazier over Ali - Foreman over Frazier - Ali over Foreman

My exact same thought. Well said.

 

Frazier beating Ali was likely the biggest achievement as Ali was still near his physical prime. The exile took away his legs to a degree but I feel he would never been able to fight Frazier running all night anyway ... he would have had to fight him ..

Ali beating Foreman was HUGE but in hindsight Ali was a terrible stylistic match up for that still semi-green Foreman ...

 

Ali over Foreman because no one gave Ali a chance

 

Great question. :good

'71 Ali UD15 '73 Frazier. (Similar to Ali-Frazier II '74)

'74 Foreman TKO2 '73 Frazier. (Identical to Foreman-Frazier I '73)

'71 Ali late KO '74 Foreman. (Similar to Ali-Foreman '74)


Winner: '71 Ali.

 

Ali being the best HW of the 3 Frazier's win is best

 

I thought that, however Joe was a slight favourite over Ali in '71, whereas Ali was a big underdog against the undefeated Foreman in '74; a juggernaut with an aura of invincibility.

 

Muahmmad Ali, in his previous '6' fights 5-1-0 (0 KO's),
and no Knock-Downs.

He looked like he couldn't break an egg, against Rudi Lubbers.

 

Ali rushed into the FOTC prematurely in advance of an anticipated adverse SCOTUS ruling against him. A mid to late 1971 challenge of Frazier after one or two more tune ups would have been optimal for him. Bonavena did extend him, but in a slow paced affair.

Frazier clearly left a piece of himself in the ring after the FOTC, and you can actually hear it in his post fight interviews following Daniels and Stander. The chip was off his shoulder, and he was merely collecting paychecks. Joe was much diminished and ready for the taking when Foreman got to him. If Bonavena had gotten by Patterson in February 1972, Frazier-Bonavena III might have been an extremely interesting prospect. Ringo already gave Joe hell twice, and would have been accepted as a far more serious challenger for Smoke than Daniels or Stander. (This is a challenge Frazier would have been committed to working hard for, if any contender aside from Ali would have been taken seriously by him, and fans would have watching with interest.)

What Ali did to Foreman was monstrous. He staggered George as early as the opening moments of round four, and probably could have taken him out at any time after round five. It's not just that Ali did it, but the way he did.

 

Ali vs Foreman


Because had it not happened, none of us would believe it

 

Ali over Foreman- This was reminicent to the build up to Clay-Liston 1 and also one of the fights that highlights Ali's greatness. Like Liston, Foreman was suppose to destroy Ali but that didn't happen. My boy George had destroyed two people that gave Ali fits(Norton & Frazier) and was suppose to do the same to Ali. This was Ali's last win over a top 10 or even top 5 ATG heavyweight. Needless to say Ali didn't want seconds.

Foreman over Frazier- I think the odds favored Frazier and Foreman even admitted to being scared, he didn't look like it when they fought. Foreman bounced Frazier up and down the canvas like a basketball. This was supposed to be a fight that may have favored Frazier at the time or at least a competitive fight but it was none of the above. This fight is also brought up to show that two ATG's can have one-sided fights with each other. I admit that Frazier wasn't prime but he was damn close and undefeated plus Foreman would've always beaten him but maybe not as easily.

Frazier over Ali- This was a close fight to predict but Frazier turned it into his finest moment. Not much would've beaten Frazier that night as he was having everything go his way. Also Joe's best performance and in the top 5 of biggest fights in the heavyweight division. Really one of the biggest fights to happen period. Everyone was in the crowd. Ali was past prime but still showed great performances after FOTC.