Could Muhammad Ali have made the Manilla fighy easier for himself ?

Both look pretty trim in comparison to this , a modern young heavy in his prime.

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Yeah, you get the feeling that he badly wanted to show himself superior to Joe, not just win the fights and the title, but really show himself to be the better man. Not so much in the rematch, of course, but that wasn't a title fight, it was a bit different.

 

From what have read Ali was convinced Joe was washed up and trained accordingly ,so yes he could have made it easier, by being in better shape.

 

Good points... I do think that maybe Ali looked past Joe a bit in that he thought he was furhter gone than he actually was. As for the weight, at the time Angelo Dundee said that as Ali was maturing, he would be the bigger man in the ring. Saying that Ali would be a better banger at 225 lbs. Ali did come out throwing bombs, down off his toes wide stance which is what he did when he wanted to do damage. Frazier (always a slow starter) got his groove on though and made it one of the fights for the ages. Happens that way sometimes. Fighters just past their peak, come togther at the right time and produce memorable battles. Lucky us !

 

Ali of '75 and 224 pounds was in fine shape for a man age 33 and a ring vet..... Had Ali fought Frazier again at MSG with A/C and decided to box and keep his range, I think Ali would've had an easier night, much like he did in 1974....

People need to realize that heat and humidity plays a major role in one's fight plan... Especially a diverse / gifted fighter like Ali....

Frazier was Frazier... Regardless of heat and humidity, he's gonna fight the only way he knows....

MR.BILL:hat

 

Thanks for the new desktop background. :good

 

Actually, if you are a flat-footed fighter looking to stalk and trade, its okay to be a smidge heavier in weight if fighting through heat and humidity in an outside arena.... Nothing wrong with having an additional glass or two of water in reserve.....

MR.BILL:bbb:deal

 

I think Ali would have been in for a rough night regardless. Frazier has the style to give him trouble any day of the week. Frazier would slip the jab and work the body to slow Ali's speed. Even when their skills were declining in 1975, the blueprint was still there.

Honestly, Frazier won all three fights. Tony Perez allowed Ali to hold and run during the second fight, and in the rubber match, Ali was begging his corner to quit while Joe was being forced to quit. Joe Frazier is one special man...he's the guy who came within a hair of making Ali quit on his stool.

 

The quitting on a stool thing is a myth, disproven many times.

Frazier in fact won ONE fight with Ali, was soundly outpointed in the other, and was beaten down to the point of Futch calling retreat in the third.

I love Joe Frazier, he was close with my father, but behind closed doors, even he doesnt cling to the "Ali was gonna quit!" excuse as much as his fans. Whenever I talk to him about it, he seems like he gets his satisfaction and victory from Ali having Parkinsons, and he takes a big piece of that credit, and the FOTC, which he says is the "one that counted most", and he's absolutely right.

The holding in the second fight was the referee's responsibility, and in Thrilla, he was just plain overcome.

 

How was Ali attempting to quit disproven? He had nothing left. He couldn't even stand on his feet during the post fight interview. He was also pissing blood after the fight, and his health started to decline after that fight.

Frazier wasn't outpointed in the second fight. Frazier clearly landed more punches. Ali held and ran during the entire fight. With all the clinching, Joe couldn't work the body and grind him down the way he wanted to. Ali hurt Joe in the second round, but that's it. Tony Perez was a terrible ref. He interfered when Ali could have finished Frazier off in the second round, but also let Ali hold as he pleased. Everyone knew Ali didn't really win that fight. That was the reason for the final fight. Ali's popularity went into overdrive after he beat Foreman.

In the last fight, Ali wasn't allowed to hold. He held Frazier around the neck a little too much, but Frazier's hands were free to go to the body and he did his damage. Frazier really won all three bouts, but was a victim of Ali's popularity.

 

Angelo Dundee said it himself that Ali didn't say a word in the corner after the 14th. I'll believe the guy who was there over guys in Fraziers camp.
Majority opinion is that Ali won a clear decision. Its clear you disagree, but the popular opinion is that the decision was fine. A Google search can get you that information.
Futch pulled Frazier out. Ali TKO14 Frazier.

 

Speaking of Dundee, he once said that he loosened the ropes in Zaire. But I've heard him deny those claims several times. He contradicts himself a lot. :huh

 

I use it for my laptop background, with the black border removed. :thumbsup