Ali/Frazier was 40 years ago today

Any of our older members around and conscious of boxing when this happened? Any cool stories to share?

 

My father was a teen when it happened. Back then, we saw pretty much zero boxing over here, but this was such a big event that radio had a broadcast of it. My father remembered listening to it and being disappointed as after almost every round the broadcaster said "this was a good round for Frazier"

 

A year before I was born. My parents tell me that it was a crazy time though. EVERYONE, man woman and child was watching that shit.

Nothing can come close to the excitement that Muhammad Ali generated. Part of me wishes I was a teenager or young adult in that era.

 

I was in my early 70's...it was a magical time. The fight took place six months before my Alzheimer's kicked in. :kidcool:


My dad talks about this from time to time...he liked Ali but wanted Frazier to win. Said he and his brothers liked to watch Ali fight on closed circuit.

 

Technically, this was the first fight I had ever attended... and I wasn't even born yet.

My mom was six month pregnant with me when my dad was given/won tickets (I forget the exact story, other than that he got the tickets for free). Given her state, they contemplated selling the tickets, which would've went a long way towards putting money in the bank (which was and still is forever an issue for my father).

They instead decided to go since it was the only time they'd ever be able to attend such a huge event in any sport. Oddly enough, the only time they had ever been to a fight together, with the rest of their marriage (they got divorced in 1990) spent fighting with each other.

Anyway, was the best live sporting event they'd ever attended. The only disappointment on the night for them was that Ali lost.

 

My parents wanted Ali to win also. My Mum described Frazier as "A Bull that refused to submit".

 

So you don't remember very much about it?

 

I don't thing his mother's belly was transparent...

 

Yeah but a lot of people heard the show on the radio.

 

frazier is on outside the lines with bert sugar. anyone know how much sugar paid for all those gold teeth?

 

Well, I tried to listen, but it was a bit noisy. Not to mention that I was surrounded by water... at least I think it was water.

 

Well at least the tickets were free. Otherwise i would have complained.

 

Did your see your mothers heart turning upside down when Ali went down?

 

It was forty years ago yesterday, local time. Australians are from the future :rock1:

 

It's sports betting illegal in Australia because of this? ::

 

::

 

REED Wasn't Born for Another 3 Months or So...Despite Knowing Every Facet of Every Angle of the Ali-Frazier I Back Story, REED Still has NEVER Seen the Fight Itself, from Start to Finish...


REED:dancingBaby:

 

Really? Why?

 

Mainly Because Ali LOST...If Ali had WON, REED Would've Made a Concerted Effort to Get a Copy of It by Now, but KNOWING Ahead of Time that Ali Loses Sort've RUINS it for REED...



REED:dancingBaby:

 

Cool. Man, it's a fun fight to watch though.

 

I think it's safe to say this is the biggest fight in boxing history.

 

REED'll Watch it @ SOME Point, but the Littany of Ali Documentaries & the Fact that he Lost this Particular 1 Made it LESS of a Priority for REED, than Some Other Fights....



REED:hammert:

 

Great, great fight

 

Incidentally, Bert Sugar happens to be a friend of mine; as far as his take on the event, you would have to read anything in which he commented on. He told me the exact same story he tells everyone about Ali/Frazier I.

There were fur coats, matching hats, knee high boots, bright red buttoned down leather trench coats - AND THOSE WERE THE MEN!!

He also tells the story of how a woman was brandishing her ticket because she was so happy to have gotten it and some guy just snatched it right out of her hand and ran away!

I'll be in New York next month for the NFL Draft. Bert Sugar has been to every draft I have gone to. Go figure. It's cool as hell, too. A lot of the high draft picks love taking pictures with him and shooting the shit.

 

Under-rated, too. The Thrilla was a great scrap, but both mens' conditioning & skills had eroded by then. This was the most exciting & high-level battle of the trilogy.

 

I agree. Thriller in Manilla is incredibly overrated really. Both are borderline shot. Sure, they give a great effort, but it's not a great fight.

Neither is Rumble in the Jungle. Boring fight and retarded performance by Zombie Boy George.

This fight is better than both of them by far.

 

:bears:

 

Hey Sly, back in those days, how often did your mother used to submit Bulls?

 

:Thumbs::laughing:

 

Thriller in Manila is best remembered for its pure unadulterated violence in capping the most famous trilogy in boxing history.

I agree w/ Ramonza's assessment that this fight ("The Fight") was the best in terms of skill level and relevance and that it's rightly recognzed as the most historically significant. But in a vacuum, I'd rather rewatch III than I. That's just me, though.