Memorable moments of Joe Frazier.....a genius nevertheless....

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Given the fighters involved and the history between them this is indeed, as the fight programme states, the fight of a lifetime

 

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And so the show begins. New York City Thursday, July 17, 1975, and a press conference to promote the fight. The planned venue is in the Philippines: the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos offers to hold the bout in Manila and sponsor it in order to divert attention from the social turmoil the country is experiencing. The press conference gives Ali another opportunity to badmouth Frazier

 

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ugust brings another press conference, this time at the Four Seasons in NYC. It is originally to feature just Frazier, but Ali has other ideas. In the middle of the conference Ali and his entourage-cum-circus arrive. They destroy the ambience and run amok on the plush carpet, shaking the chandeliers with their hollering. In another attempt to get under the skin of Frazier they wear black T-shirts with pictures of gold gorillas on the front

 

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On September 13, Joe Frazier arrives in Manila. He is surrounded by security guards as he makes his way through the airport with his entourage

 

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Two days later Ali, the reigning world heavyweight champion, touches down in the Philipines. On his arrival he receives a Smokin' Joe Frazier T-shirt from Frazier's son Marvis, left

 

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Ali doesn't have it all his own way in the insults department. Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos applauds as Frazier makes some remarks about Ali when they visit the Malacanang Palace. Between the two fighters is Marco's wife Imelda

 

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Ali, ever the showman while speaking to the press on September 22...

 

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... though he does have his contemplative moments too

 

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A trainer slams a medicine ball into Frazier's abdomen during a public workout. Looking on is Frazier's sparring partner Duane Bobick

 

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The reigning champion shows off his hand speed to a huge crowd during a public workout at the Folk Art Center

 

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The tale of the tape

 

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The fight begins at 10:45 local time in order to accomodate US TV. Frazier throws out a left jab as Ali pulls back during the first round

 

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However Ali outboxes and outscores the challenger in the early rounds. Here Frazier gets a face full of right glove from Ali in the second round. On a number of occasions he is hurt by the flurry of combinations that Ali is delivering

 

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Ali peeks through his raised gloves as Frazier backs the champion against the ropes in the third round

 

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By the fourth round, the humidity – and the energy he has exerted in the earlier rounds – starts to affect Ali. Frazier's tactic is to punish Ali's body at close range, even though it means he has to take more and more of the withering punishment Ali is dishing out. Ali had hoped his early onslaught would make it a short fight and starts to grow frustrated by Frazier's refusal to go down and ability to absorb the punishment – so much so that he screams "You stupid chump, you!"

 

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Spurred on by this frustration, Frazier turns up his own attack and begins punishing Ali with his trademark hooks. By the sixth round, Frazier has unleashed a couple of huge left hooks that shudder into Ali's jaw, causing him to stagger back. The challenger seems to be gaining control of the bout

 

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Ali glances a right off Frazier during the seventh round. At the beginning of the round, Ali reportedly whispers in Frazier's ear, "Joe, they told me you was all washed up"; Frazier growls back, "They told you wrong, pretty boy"

 

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Frazier grimaces when Ali lands another left

 

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The punishment continues in the ninth as a focused Ali slams another huge right into Frazier

 

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Both fighters look tired as they meet in the centre of the ring