That first historic Ali vs Frazier confrontation in 1971, with out query one of many largest sports activities occasions of all-time, took a big toll on each “Smokin’ Joe” and “The Louisville Lip”. Months of build-up and intense strain had been topped off by a fierce, dramatic, fifteen spherical battle which noticed Frazier, in one of many biggest performances in boxing historical past, earn a unanimous determination win. However following the titanic battle, Joe was admitted to hospital and handled for various illnesses, together with hypertension, and he would by no means be fairly the identical fighter ever after.
Ali didn’t pay as steep a value bodily, although he too visited a hospital to deal with an injured jaw, however in absorbing his first profession defeat his public picture sustained some severe harm. Not was Muhammad Ali the uncrowned king who had been unjustly stripped of his crown after refusing to serve within the army. As an alternative he misplaced his declare to supremacy after being knocked down and crushed fair-and-square by an equally distinctive expertise. He was now, really, a former champion.
And by the point of Ali vs Frazier II, so was Joe. After a few wins in opposition to overmatched opposition in 1972, Frazier took on a younger contender named George Foreman, the 1968 Olympic gold medalist, undefeated with 34 knockouts in 37 wins. Having vanquished Ali, Frazier was considered as a very dominant champion and there was little motive to suppose Foreman may take the crown. So battle followers bought the shock of their lives when Large George not solely defeated Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, however gave him a horrible beating, knocking him down six instances in lower than six minutes as Howard Cosell repeatedly bellowed from ringside, “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
Throughout this identical interval, Ali had saved a busy schedule, ten bouts over eighteen months, earlier than struggling his personal setback simply two months after Frazier misplaced to Foreman, a twelve spherical determination loss to a younger, unheralded contender named Ken Norton. Worse, Ali suffered a damaged jaw through the battle and was out of motion for months whereas it healed, although each Ali and Frazier bought again within the win column earlier than the yr was out. Joe took a clear-cut factors verdict over rugged Joe Bugner in July, and Ali squeaked by with a revenge split-decision win over Norton two months later. And so the stage was set for a high-stakes, non-title rematch between Frazier and Ali, the winner to get a shot at Foreman.
Lengthy earlier than this many questioned why Ali vs Frazier II had not already taken place. After the extraordinary success of their first encounter, it appeared a protected guess {that a} rematch would occur earlier than too lengthy. However the months handed and the champion confirmed no curiosity. The rationale was easy: Frazier hated “Clay,” as he appreciated to name him. Throughout Ali’s compelled exile Frazier had labored to assist his rival regain his boxing license and had even loaned him cash. However as soon as contracts had been signed for the ’71 bout, Ali, searching for to determine a psychological edge, had mocked and taunted Frazier, calling him “ugly” and “ignorant” and labeling him an “Uncle Tom.” To Frazier, this was betrayal. And it damage. Such was Joe’s fury that, in response to his personal account, he prayed in his dressing room earlier than their first showdown for the ability to actually kill Ali.
So not surprisingly, when anybody tried to debate a rematch, they didn’t get very far with Joe. He had deeply resented the even purse cut up for the primary battle and so Frazier’s response relating to a return was easy and to the purpose: present me the money. Earlier than the Foreman bout there had actually been discussions about placing collectively Ali vs Frazier II with the fighters evenly splitting a six million greenback pot, simply as that they had cut up 5 million in ’71. “No approach,” mentioned Frazier. “I’m the champ. I gained. I’ll go to hell earlier than I give him half once more.” So as a substitute of preventing Ali for 3 million, Joe bought pummeled by Foreman for lower than one.
Madison Sq. Backyard was offered out once more for Ali vs Frazier II however the ambiance was nothing like ’71. How may it have been? The primary battle was historical past, a contest between two undefeated heavyweight champions, considered by an estimated 300 million folks across the globe. Now Ali and Frazier had been now not larger than life, however as a substitute ex-champions, older and slower. But the stress between the 2 was, if something, even better. None of Frazier’s resentment had abated, one thing clear to all when Joe tried to wring Ali’s neck throughout a dwell tv interview with Howard Cosell. So by battle night time, whereas it wasn’t ’71, anticipation nonetheless ran excessive.
Sadly for Frazier, Ali refused to make the identical errors which had abetted Joe’s efforts in ’71, reminiscent of clowning and taking part in to the group whereas Joe piled up factors, or selecting the ropes and letting Frazier pound his stomach. He additionally refused to have interaction in as many spirited, toe-to-toe exchanges; the second it regarded like a firefight may get away, Ali clinched or bought on his bicycle. Concentrating on lateral motion and utilizing your entire ring, Ali circled and danced, touchdown fast jabs and one-twos, and hugging Joe anytime he threatened. It didn’t make for thrilling motion, but it surely did permit Ali to determine a commanding lead on the scorecards as he swept the primary 4 rounds, even staggering Frazier within the second with a proper hand.
But it surely have to be famous that Ali was helped by the truth that Frazier appeared a pale imitation of his previously “smokin’” self. In comparison with the primary battle, Joe moved with much less urgency and his punches lacked snap. He pursued doggedly, often getting dwelling with the massive left, however for essentially the most half Ali the matador stayed one step forward of the bull on legs extra nimble than in ’71. And when Joe did threaten, Ali tied him up and held on till the referee intervened. Within the fifth the tempo slowed and Frazier began to shut the space however Ali saved clinching whereas transferring simply sufficient to remain out of hassle. The sixth was managed by Ali and a annoyed Frazier taunted “The Louisville Lip” earlier than paying for his hassle by consuming a pointy one-two.
It was not till the seventh that Frazier lastly discovered some hearth and smoke, timing Ali higher and touchdown his howitzer, the left hook, repeatedly. He took the eighth as effectively however nonetheless, he couldn’t seize management of the competition as he had in ’71; Ali’s clinching ways blunted his assault. After which within the ninth Ali got here again to life, launching swift forays of one-two’s and proper arms, beating Frazier to the punch repeatedly, and gorgeous him with an uppercut on the finish of the spherical.
Now it was apparent that Frazier wanted a knockout to win. And whereas Joe landed extra left hooks within the tenth, not like of their first conflict, none severely damage or staggered Ali. Each males linked within the eleventh, the very best motion spherical of the battle, and within the remaining stanza Ali closed the present, throwing one flurry after one other and giving the group the “Ali Shuffle” as he swatted at Frazier. And but it was clinches, not punches, which allowed Ali to manage a lot of the motion and fittingly, as the ultimate bell sounded, it discovered the 2 heavyweights tousled in one another’s arms.
The competition had lacked the depth, the drama, and the ebb and stream of their first historic duel and this time there was no suspense when it comes to the result; Ali had clearly gained no fewer than seven rounds. Frazier and his coach Eddie Futch would complain concerning the referee’s unwillingness to penalize “The Biggest” for his fixed holding, however Joe had merely not been busy sufficient to engender a lot sympathy. It had been an excellent heavyweight battle, but a considerably anti-climactic affair, actually not a basic, and now consideration shifted to the prospect of the artful Ali difficult the indomitable Foreman within the well-known “Rumble In The Jungle.” — Michael Carbert
