Joe Frazier vs Eddie Futch: Manila

Joe was half or more blind in his right eye too, from before....so he was blind in both eyes during that fight.

It took a long time for that to come out.

When Ali was broke when he was stripped, Joe supported him, which is why Ali hated him.

Joe at least kept most of his money.

Bought a nice wooden two story house not a millionair's mansion.

 

I agree 100%. Ali wanted to continue in the Holmes fight and that fight was just as worse. Like I said Ali was ahead by 4 or 5 points headed into the last round on all 3 judges scorecards.

 

Spot on :good

There were no losers in Manila that night. Just too warriors who gave all they had.

 

Great read
Joe Frazier was truly cut from different cloth

 

It is true....Dundee nearly called the fight over as he didn't want Ali to continue the physical damage late in the fight.

 

I've heard Gil Clancy opine that Futch should have let Frazier go out for the final round,given how exhausted Ali was.

Personally,I think despite collapsing after the fight,Ali would have managed to last another three minutes.I also believe that Frazier would have taken a beating,but the fight have done the distance. Maybe,long-term Joe may have found this psychologically easier to accept and retired then and there.

But if we take the fight in isolation,it probably was the correct call.Frazier had already lost and he was not capable of doing anything that would change this fact.

 

Great post and a really fascinating read. I understand some of the points put forward about letting Frazier go out for the last round. I guess it depends on your view of towards what a trainer should prioritise - the somewhat animalistic instict of a fighter to keep going no matter what, or concern for a human life. Whilst the bond between a trainer and fighter is vitally important, and trust a core part of that, I think any life is too valuable to gamble with in a case like Ali - Frazier III and Futch made the right call in challenging circumstances.

 

That was a nice post,OP.

 

Thanks

 

Such a sad story!

I do not believe for one second that Ali would not have come out for the 15th.

Ali is made of stuff that few people can comprehend.....look at what he ultimately sacrificed to beat Foreman?

Frazier was a warrior and I loved watching him! R.I.P

 

Great read :good

 

Incredible read. Thank you for sharing it.