Why did Ali slug with Frazier in FOTC?

Ali made the right choice by standing and fighting, I think. He would've paid even more dearly in the final rounds of the fight if he had tried to run. Frazier would've caught him anyways, too.

 

Their styles and mindsets are perfect for each other.

Even at their very best, they would find each other in the ring and
the battle would be on. CC / Ali would not run....Joe would be smoking.

 

Pride.
Nothing more than that really IMO.
Ali was defo rusty after the layoff, but Fraizer was @ his absolute best.
Muhammed wanted to fight fire with fire I think Ali wanted to shock the
world the way he did with Liston and wanted to win by K.O.

He took this fight as a challenge Vs. not only Fraizer but his critics.
He should have done more boxing deff, but who are we to Q the champ.

 

JIm Broughton,has it right Ali didnt have the legs, 18 rds of boxing in 3 1/2 years,he didnt trust his stamina,his sparring sessions showed him continually on the ropes ,he told Jose Torres "of course I won't do that in the fight" ,but Torres thought it had become a habit ,he was right.Chris Pontius may have a point too ,Ali knew that Frazier was usually a slow starter ,so may have thought he was vulnerable early,whatever ,he gave the bestr fighter inthe world at that time a hell of a fight ,and many say diminished him permamnently.

 

Main reason is that Ali was still rusty from the three and half year layoff and also jaded from fighting two elite fighters (Quarry and Bonavena) in only two months in an effort to get into shape quickly.

Second reason is that the style of Joe Frazier demanded that you stand and fight, every now and then.

 

Pontius is right. It was Ali's strategy to blitz Frazier and either blast him out early or leave him so banged up he would be useless for the second half of the fight.

But this plan failed to consider Frazier's armor plating and indomitable heart.

 

Knocking out Bonavena with left hooks got Ali overconfident that he could hook with Frazier.

 

..............I don't think there was any one reason why. As with most things, there were several factors involved.


First, Ali clearly underestimated Frazier, and admitted so later. Second, he didn't have the legs he'd had earlier, and Frazier was quite swift and relentless in this fight.

Third, I don't know that I'd actually agree that he slugged with him. That's not really true. He punched in spots, but mostly flurried and held.


Chinxkid; your posts are excellent; I hope you stick around. :good

 

Boxers a poets? Man it looks like you're the poet! Great post :good

 

Ali, before fighting Frazier for the first time:

Journalist: Is Joe Frazier a slow starter?

Ali: Nah i don't know...he's not that slow, his opponents just tire out running and fighting (..)

I could look up the youtube link if anyone wants to see.

 

When Ali was broke, in his exile, Joe gave him some money....then came the hype, and the name calling....and Ali hated Joe first....mostly out of gratitued.
Joe never ever forgave him the hurtful name calling.
That is what happens when you try to be a gent, some ass hole takes the money and calls you mean rotten names.
Lesson, bank your money, because I bet Joe never got his money back either.

 

I don't remember any fight in Ali's entire career where he totally danced and kept his feet moving for 15 rounds. Granted, in the 1960's he was up on his toes and moved a whole lot more than his post exile years. I just find it silly that the overzealous Ali supporters excuse for losing to Frazier is that he didn't have the legs anymore. Ali never had the legs to begin with to dance entirely for 15 rounds. In fact, nobody in the history of the sport has danced and punched off their toes for 15 complete rounds. I will definitely agree with the general consensus that Ali's legs weren't the same when he returned to boxing for his second title reign. It's just way overboard to conclude that Ali was a dancer for an entire 15 round fight when nobody in the history of the sport employed that strategy. The fact is Ali sat down on his punches more post exile and punched off his toes more often pre-exile.

 

To some extent, he wanted to prove to Joe he was a man, that he could take it.