Joe Frazier and the world’s famous Muhammad Ali were heavyweight boxing champions who squared up in the ring three times in the 1970s. Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali first met in the ring on March 8, 1971, in a match billed as The Fight of the Century.
Joe Frazier was victorious in his first professional boxing match with Ali. His victory over Ali in 1971 was his 27th straight win as a professional boxer and the first defeat for Ali in his boxing career.
Frazier would lose his first professional boxing match against George Foreman in 1973. A year later, Frazier and Ali had a rematch for the NABF heavyweight title at the Madison Square Garden and lost by unanimous decision.
Their third and final professional boxing match was billed as “The Thrilla in Manila”. Ali retained his WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles after Frazier’s corner retired the match in the fourteenth round.
Ali and Frazier were world champions who had boxing fans on their feet during their professional careers. Ali and Frazier were among the best to step into a boxing ring.
They remain an inspiration to young athletes who intend to build a career in boxing.
Let’s look at the life and achievements of Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.
Joe Frazier
Nicknamed the “Smoking Joe”, Joseph William Frazier was an American professional boxer with a career record of 32 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.
Frazier’s professional boxing record includes a victory over world’s famous Muhammad Ali in 1971. He is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers in the history of the sport.
Frazier was formidable with his left hand and his unique pressure-fighting style made him unstoppable in the ring.
Frazier’s rise to greatness began at the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he won a gold medal as an amateur. From 1968 to 1973, Frazier held the NYSAC heavyweight. He was also the undisputed heavyweight champion for three years from 1970 to 1973.
Frazier won his first 10 professional boxing matches by knockouts. He became the undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970 and in 1971, he defeated Muhammad Ali at the Madison Square Garden in New York by unanimous decision.
Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali was dubbed The Fight of the Century. Two years after defeating Ali Frazier lost his first professional boxing match against George Foreman by knockout. His second loss in the boxing ring was against Muhammad Ali.
Frazier lost his third professional boxing match against Muhammad Ali in a fight dubbed “The Thrilla in Manila” on October 1, 1975.
Frazier retired from professional boxing after his second loss to George Foreman on June 15, 1976. However, he made a comeback in 1981, fighting Floyd Cummings in a match that ended in a draw.
In total, Frazier registered 32 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. Frazier won 27 fights by knockouts and 5 by decision.
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Muhammad Ali
Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. Nicknamed “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali remains the most influential figure in the boxing world.
The late professional American boxer held the Ring magazine heavyweight titles for six years from 1964 to 1970. Ali was the undisputed champion from ‘74 to ‘78. He was also the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from ‘78 to ‘79.
Ali was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC in 1999.
Ali began his boxing career at a young age. He won his first gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy.
Ali became a professional boxer in 1960 and converted to Islam a year later.
On February 25, 1964, Ali won the world heavyweight championship after defeating Sony Liston at the Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine.
Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted into the U.S. military to fight in the Vietnam War. Ali refused to be involved in the war because of his religious beliefs. This cost Ali his boxing titles and he managed to appeal the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his conviction.
Ali’s first loss in the ring was against Joe Frazier in 1971. Throughout his boxing career, he won 56 fights, 37 by knockout, and 19 by decision. Ali lost 5 fights throughout his boxing career and retired after losing to Trevor Berbick in 1981.
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Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali: Key Differences between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali
Frazier and Ali were the biggest names in the world of boxing in the 20th century.
Frazier is known for his strength and formidable left hand. He utilizes a unique pressure fighting style, which saw him record 29 straight victories in the boxing ring.
Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali was dubbed the Fight of the Century in their first fight. The rematch was in favour of Ali who defeated Frazier in the 14th round.
Frazier retired from professional boxing after his second loss to George Foreman on June 15, 1976. However, he made a comeback in 1981, fighting Floyd Cummings in a match that ended in a draw.
In total, Frazier registered 32 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. Frazier won 27 fights by knockouts and 5 by decision.
Throughout his boxing career, Ali won 56 fights, 37 by knockout, and 19 by decision. Ali lost 5 fights throughout his boxing career and retired after losing to Trevor Berbick in 1981.
Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali: Fight of the Century
The famous Fight of the Century was a professional boxing match between Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali. Frazier came into the fight as the WBA WBC, and The Ring heavyweight champion.
The boxing match between Frazier and Ali took place on Monday, March 8, 1971, at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. This boxing match was more than a fight between two professional boxers.
Ali came into the match without holding any titles after he was stripped of all his titles because he refused to be drafted into the U.S. military to fight in the Vietnam War.
Unlike Ali, Frazier supported the U.S. involvement in the war. Things were already heated between Frazier and Ali before they stepped into the boxing ring.
Frazier defeated Ali by unanimous decision after 15 rounds.
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Joe Frazier vs Muhammad: Ali vs Frazier II
The rematch of Ali vs Frazier took place on January 28, 1974, at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. This time Ali defeated Joe Frazier by unanimous decision.
The rematch of Ali vs Frazier didn’t excite fans that much since both men were not current world champions. It was more of revenge for Ali’s first loss in a boxing ring.
Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali: Ali vs Frazier III “The Thrilla in Manila”
Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali III was dubbed “The Thrilla in Manila” and it was the final professional boxing match between two of the greatest boxers in the 20th century.
Ali came into the match as the WBA and WBC heavyweight champion. Ali fought Frazier for the heavyweight championship of the world on October 1, 1975, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
Ali retained his WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles after Frazier’s corner retired the match in the fourteenth round.
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Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali: Personal Information and Career Comparison
| Joe Frazier | Muhammad Ali | |
| Height | 5 feet 11.5 inches (1.82 m) | 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Reach | 73 inches (185 cm) | 80 inches (203 cm) |
| Date of birth | January 12, 1944 | January 17, 1942 |
| Died | November 7, 2011, at age 67 | June 3, 2016, at age 74 |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Total professional fights | 37 | 61 |
| Wins | 32 | 56 |
| By TKO | 27 | 37 |
| Draws | 1 | 0 |
| Loses | 4 | 5 |
| No contest | 0 | 0 |
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