So, let's say Ali never loses his title (also, in this scenario Ali-Frazier II would be Ali's title-losing defense in 1970). After defending his title twice in 1967 (each within a month-and-a-half of the other) the champion decides to take a little downtime to enjoy his life. In the meantime Smokin' Joe Frazier has been making a big noise in the heavyweight division, most recently a victory over Buster Mathis solidified his rep as number one contender. Ali's ring rust shows up in the early rounds where he just can't seem to find range for the jab with Frazier's animated bobbing defense wizardry. Nevertheless, the champion wins the early rounds by dint of his activity: so many impressive, artistic combinations, none of which have much heft to them and when they do land they're almost entirely on Joe's gloves. This lasts for nearly three rounds, with neither man landing any flush blows but both remaining quite active for heavyweights, Joe working just as hard chasing the balletically perfect foot work of Ali. In the fourth round Ali begins getting cute, right hand at his waist, still not landing those remarkable combinations and beginning to look like he's taking a breather after the first minute mark. Then he gets hit flush for the first time with Frazier's hook, going down as if he were pole-axed. He gets up and runs into the turnbuckle, completely surprised not just by the power but by the shocking hand speed of Frazier, Mark '68. From that point on Ali leathers the crap out of Joe, but lands with weight very rarely. Joe opens up a punishing body attack, taking the next five rounds. Ali's throwing plenty of punches from rounds four to eight, but is getting maniacally frustrated and looking less and less confident. He absorbs at least two completely flush left hooks and finds his knees tremoring each time (though he stays up the rest of the fight). In the eight he's resorting to his default when flummoxed: square up, throw a fast left right and then clinch as promptly as possible, already knowing Joe's power and not wanting to feel it again. In the ninth Frazier buckles Ali's knees with a hook, but then misses a huge uppercut and Ali has time to spin out and spin Frazier his way. He lands a big straight right/left hook and Frazier is staggered into the ropes. Ali follows him, but Joe's auto-pilot smokin' is just too confounding for him. It is from this point on that Ali takes the fight over, landing the jabs and combinations progressively more and even, in the 15th, temporarily dropping Frazier with a right. Unanimous Decision Ali
