Was Ali seriously thinking about quitting ?

Not entirely. People need to stop pouring credit for everything boxing on the shoulders of Ali. They still had 15 rounders up until the late 80's. I'd say that the death of Duk-Koo Kim had more to do with the elimination of 15 rounders.

 

Ali was DEAD tired at that point, he was tired beyond belief and when he looked that bad in the corner you know he IS tired considering how tough he is and how he keeps pushing regardless of what happens. It's the cloest he felt to death EVER according to comments from him after the fight.

 

I have no doubt he wanted to quit. But with Dundee in his corner, there is no way he would let Frazier beat him, especially not after dominating him in the 14th round. It was the most brutal, one sided round of their trilogy. Ali could have stopped Joe in the 15th, and I think Angelo would have convinced Ali to try.

 

If Ali felt like death, Joe looked like it after the 14th.

 

We are in agreement that he was asking Dundee to stop the fight so I don't think that anyone can pose an argument saying that he didn't want to quit. He did want to quit and that is an undisputable fact. The only thing up for debate here is whether or not dundee would have been able to talk him into continuing within that 1 minute.