Why do people think Frazier would beat a prime Ali?

Somebody asked about which was the greater win of FOTC and Montreal. Montreal quite clearly for me. Leonard was smack in his physical prime and Duran had recently moved up from LW.

 

As for FOTC, I think as usual one you should try and get perspective from the view at the time. Joe was a slight betting favorite and a much bigger favorite with the boxing writers etc. Ali quite simply wasn't seen to be the same after the lay-off. A view that would persist during his whole second career.

 

Prime for prime I think Ali wins something like 11-4 or 12-3.

He would use movement and superior reflexes to keep out of harms way, while peppering the onrushing Frazier, tying him up when needed, etc.

If you watch video of Ali, it is apparent he didn't have the same movement against Frazier in 1971 that he had in his 1966-1967 prime.

 

That this even is a somewhat contended question when one fighter was 3 years older than the other, had a 3.5 year lay-off and still won 2 out of 3 fights, suggests that that fighter is a "liberal media darling" and the other perceived as a blue color underdog. A bit like Leonard-Hagler, with the difference that Ali also was older than Frazier.

 

I'm a maths teacher. I can't stand bad maths.

 

I pick Frazier to beat him and at the very worst trouble him.

Elite swarmers will give him fits. But with his speed and conditioning it is feasible he can run for the full 15 rounds, just not likely in my mind.

Frazier, Dempsey, Marciano, Tyson, Langford give him the biggest issues. Louis and Holy an probably adapt to fight that way so would give him issues also. Could Ali beat every one on that list, maybe but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

Lol,...bull****.

 

You're obviously blind. Watch his interview in ireland.

 

Straight from Ali's lips, to your ears, and you instantly believe it.

 

I would have to pick prime Ali over Frazier by easy decision; as far as being lucky against Foreman, I just rewatched the fight a few days ago and to me Foreman never seemed to be in the fight, Ali controlled him the whole fight in my view.

 

Lol and you don't sound like an Ali fanboy believing that?

 

He also said that he would have done worse against Frazier before his layoff, because he was not as strong.

Make of it all what you will.

 

Though Duran had Leonard scared s***less, and messed up psychology wise.

 

I do not like the way the poll choices are worded.

My $.02 Frazier won the first and most significant fight when the fighters were closest to their primes.

Ali could not in-fight, and outside of the Liston fight lacked one punch power to keep Frazier off. Frazier also had better stamina.

So sure, Frazier could have beaten any version of Ali. I say could not always would.

The 2nd fight is one I'd like to score. I have heard some say Frazier edged it and did most of the work.

Judges cards:

Tony Perez (referee) 6-5-1 Ali
Jack Gordon (judge) 7-5 Ali
Tony Castellan 7-4-1

 

It's possible. Ali was always open for a hook and Joe had a very quick and hard hook. My bet would be that Ali out points Frazier in a tough fight 9-6 in rounds. Frazier would be a tough fight for any Ali but Ali in the end wins more rounds.