Video: The Ali – Frazier Trilogy Included the Fight of the Century and The Thrilla In Manila
Boxing, Video November 8th. 2011, 10:48am
Joe Frazier passed away Monday at the age of 67. While Frazier is one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time, he will forever be linked to his most bitter rival, Muhammad Ali. In the 1970′s, Frazier and Ali met for three memorable fights, and two are considered among the most famous fights in boxing history. Below are the full videos of the entire trilogy. If you’ve got three hours, you can relive one of the greatest rivalries any sport has ever seen.
Frazier – Ali I – March 8, 1971
We will never see a heavyweight match up like this again. At the time, Frazier was 26-0 and the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Ali was 31-0 and had been the undisputed heavyweight champion before being stripped of his titles when he refused to go to Vietnam. With Ali reinstated and still undefeated the dream fight finally took place. The fight went all 15 rounds with Frazier taking a unanimous decision and handing Ali his first career loss.
Ali-Frazier II – January 28, 1974
Between The Fight of the Century and the rematch at Madison Square Garden, both fighters suffered a loss. Ali dropped a split decision to Ken Norton and Frazier was dropped by George Foreman. With both men defeated, the fight lacked the juice of the first fight. Though an in-studio fight at the Wide World of Sports must have raised the interest just a bit.
Ali would go on to avenge his first loss by decision. The truth is, it didn’t matter how good Ali-Frazier II was, when compared to the two fights it was sandwiched in between, how could it be remembered with proper reverence.
Frazier – Ali III – October 1, 1975
While their first fight may be the best fight of all-time, this is the most famous. Ali badgered and taunted Frazier non-stop leading up to their final fight. The bout was another classic, with Frazier’s corner throwing in the towel seconds before Ali was ready to quit. Ali won the fight and the series and would go down as the Greatest of All Time, with Ali himself calling Frazier the second greatest.
Frazier would have just two more fights in his career. He retired with a 32-4-1 career record with 27 of his wins coming by knockout. Ali would win his next 6 fights and finish his career with a 7-3 run, but would never have a fight that mattered as much as any of his classic bouts with Frazier.
Following the Thrilla In Manila, Ali finally paid Frazier the respect he deserved.
I must be crazy. I always bring out the best in the men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I’ll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I’m gonna tell ya, that’s one helluva man, and God bless him.
Ali – Frazier. Frazier – Ali. Without one, the other may never have been as great.

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12 Responses to “Video: The Ali – Frazier Trilogy Included the Fight of the Century and The Thrilla In Manila”
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November 8th, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Can ESPN, or whoever has the rights, just play these on television sometime this week? That would be awesome.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Someone tweeted that article this morning (JPQ?). I really enjoyed it.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:56 AM
and how.
nice writeup brah.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Boxing at its zenith. Shame many of us never really got to enjoy the sport like this.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Wow, I’m just now learning about Joe Frazier. This guy was a pretty cool cat, eh?
/J-Mac
November 8th, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Joe Frazier: Greatest left hook in boxing history.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Without this fight we would have never seen Denzel where that ridiculous fur coat in American Gangster.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:28 AM
This is a general question for anyone. If you were receiving head from Kelsey Grammar would you feel compelled to quote the call from that Frazier loss to Foreman?
November 8th, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Ali was so weirdly racist with Frazier.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Just watched some moments from each of those clips. Really good stuff. I’m with Chief – play those fights on TV. Someone.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Ali was so weirdly racist with Frazier.
Frazier is fuming that he didn’t outlive Ali. Didn’t he say something like they should have “pushed him in” when Ali lit the flame at the Olympics?
November 8th, 2011 at 12:46 PM
funny starkington