The WBC and WBA versions of the World Heavyweight Title were on the line in this fight, but much more was at stake than that. Bragging rights about who was the best heavyweight of that era were also up for grabs, and on 1st October 1975, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali collided in an epic battle.
Ali Starts Well
While Frazier confidently ploughed forward at the start of the fight, Ali was the one racking up the points, using his razor sharp jab to great effect. Frazier seemed to be looking for one punch, put Ali was content to potshot him as he came in.
This speed won Ali the opening two sessions, but Frazier was still a very live threat. He was smiling after Ali hit him, and didn’t look at all discouraged.
Frazier Wakes Up
In the third round, Joe Frazier truly got going. He started getting through, and Ali was beginning to use his ‘rope-a-dope’ tactic. Unfortunately for Ali though, the bad side of ‘rope-a-dope’ is the fact that you take a ream of body shots, and Frazier was a more than competent body puncher.
Ali got back to basics in round four though, and narrowly took it. Ali’s sublime boxing ability shone through, and the jab of Ali was beginning to creep back into the action.
In both rounds five and six, Ali was hurt by the big left hook of ‘Smokin’ Joe’. These, along with the workrate of Frazier won him these rounds, as Ali simply wasn’t doing enough.
Volume won Frazier the next round too, although Ali reminded him of his presence with a cracking right uppercut to finish the round. Ali started the eighth well, but Frazier came on strong and took that round with effective body punching.
Come rounds nine and ten and Frazier just wasn’t slowing down. Ali was too tired to keep him off, and at this point in the fight, the pot-shots of Ali were still doing nothing to the exuberant Frazier. Frazier looked to be running away with the fight.
In the eleventh, Ali realised that a change in strategy was needed, and he did better; working from the outside.
Both were exhausted going into the twelfth, but as Frazier had slowed down, Ali was able to use his jab and keep Frazier away. This paid off in round thirteen, where Ali hurt his foe badly. Joe Frazier was now looking out on his feet.
This continued in round fourteen, where Frazier looked all in. Ali put in a huge effort, and connected with headshots at will.
Frazier Quits On His Stool
Maybe realising that if he went out again Ali could knock him out, Frazier decided to quit on his stool. Funnily enough, Ali wanted to do the same thing, but his corner suspected Frazier wanted no more, and told Ali to hang tight. This proved to be sterling advice.
As a result of this fight, Ali was considered to be the best heavyweight ever. Because Frazier put in such a good showing, this fight didn’t damage his stock at all, but at the end of the day, only one could walk away with the ‘W’, and this was ‘the Greatest’.
How To Watch Ali vs. Frazier 3
This article was this weeks' 'Classic Fight of the Week'. Please visit my profile page for details on how to watch this, or any of the fights previously covered in this column.
