Who picked who to win! Ali vs Frazier, March 8, 1971!

Don't know about sports writers, but I picked Frazier to win.

However, I did not think it would go the distance. Had Joe winning by stoppage late.

The generally unrecognized fact about the FOTC was that Ali fought one of his greatest fights ever that night.

 

Personally I thought Joe would get comfortably out pointed. Couldn't tell you sports writers picks though.

 

I was one of two kids at our secondary school who I remember picking Frazier.
Both the other kid and I, were boxers.

 

Why would you consider it one of Ali's greatest?

 

Because he fought the best Joe Frazier that ever lived on a night when he was far from ready to do so based on his long layoff and gave him a hell of a fight .. his performance was amazing all things considered and his bravery exceptional.

 

I not only picked Frazier to win, but I was confident enough to bet money on it.

 

Thought Ali would take it, in fact I think everyone in our Minnepolis gym did.

 

"far from ready to do so"



Really???

In the six months leading up to the fight, Ali had 9 times the rounds in the ring that Frazier did.

And I bet you're one of the ones that actually think Ali was totally removed from the gym and fight game during the "layoff". :roll:

Funny how no one from the Ali camp leaned on the layoff crutch prior to the fight. :yep

Only when Frazier prevailed did the layoff excuse start and the drumbeat from the Ali sycophants in the media began to sell it to the public.

And it apparently worked on you.

 

I knew Frazier would win and I knew he would knock him down in the 15th round. I wasn't born yet, but i knew it.

 

Ali was in no way shape or form "ready" to face prime Joe Frazier. Ali was 5-6 months removed from a 4 year layoff. Whether he trained off and on during the layoff is a mute point......nothing compares to having real fights. Ring rust was evident as he took to the ropes early not having the energy to keep moving.

 

It was fairly even going in, but Frazier had slightly more backers. I'm pretty sure the odds were 6-5 for Frazier. Interestingly, although I could be mistaken, I believe most former champs picked Frazier. Jack Dempsey picked him with confidence.

It really is a fantastic fight as well. It can be argued that it's the best of the trilogy.

 

The fight started off at even money.

Odds slowly shifted in Frazier's favor and by actual fight time it was around 9-5.

The FOTC is clearly the best and most important fight of the trilogy. Both fighters still young and at or near their actual primes, undefeated and dominant, etc.

The world stopped for that fight.

I would doubt very much that we have a scenario again like that one for a long time.

 

:roll:

He KNEW he had to conserve energy for the late rounds, bud.

This wasn't a mid-60s cripple or tomato can he was fighting.

 

Page 16 of the Ali Groupies Gospel:

Ali was never defeated fair and square.

He was either-
Rusty from his long layoff
Stylistically mismatched
A shell of his former self

Ali simply getting his ass beat, is unthinkable.