Ali confident he will have revenge today

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33445, 29 January 1974, Page 32

Ali confident he will have revenge today

ißy P.7LL GRIMSEY. of the Associated Pres?, through N Z.P. A. > NEW YORK. “It will be no contest. I am going to do what I should have done last time," a cocky, bombastic Muhammad Mi. the bookmakers’ favourite, 8-5, predicted as he prepared for a do-or-die 12-round rematch with Joe Frazier.

A sullen and introspective Frazier, declining any interviews, could not suppress a growl as he left the ring after the formal weighin yesterday.

‘Til shut his trap for good,” he whispered huskily to a friend.

The fight at 2.30 p.m. today (New Zealand time) at Madison Square Garden is a sequel to the “fight of the century” on March 8, 1971, between the then two champions, who had never lost a bout, and it will be almost as rich.

All seats sold All 20,400 seats, priced at between SUS2O and SUS 100, have been sold. The promoter, Mr R. Arum, Ali’s lawyer, said that 1000 m people throughout the world would see the fight on closed television, live, and ■recorded. Arum said the fight could gross about SNZI2m. If it did, Ali and Frazier would each collect about SNZ2m. They are guaranteed about 5NZ520.000 each.

First fight They received about SNZI.7m each for the first fight, won by Frazier on a decision. Ali, who had been idle for more than three years, was overweight at lost 51b, slow, and out of shape. Nevertheless, he put up a strong fight, punishing the then recognised heavy-weight champion so badly that Frazier required hospital treatment. A blood vessel was ruptured in All’s jaw. “Somebody counted while looking at the movie, and said I hit Joe 992 times,” Ali said. “He takes a lot of punishment. He just knows one way to fight — that is, move forward with arms swinging." Ali weighed in at 15st 21b yesterday, and Frazier at 14st 131 b. Ali, aged 32, is 6ft 3in, and has a reach of 80in. Frazier, aged 30, is sft Ulin. and has a reach of 73|in."

Big audience Several hundred ring buffs and assorted characters attended the weigh-in, which was televised live. Posters proclaiming Ali "champion of the world” were for sale at $l. Several young women were passing out pamphlets advertising the Muhammad Ali victory party after the fight. Tickets were being sold for $lO each. Because of the scuffle last week at the television studio after Ali had called Frazier ignorant, the two fighters weighed in separately, and Mr E. Dooley, of the State Athletic Commission, was happy about it. Earlier, he

had fined the two fighters SNZ33SO each for conduct detrimental to boxing.

Historic scales Frazier made the first appearance, striding through a corridor of people to take his place on the battered old scales on which Jack Dempsey, Jack Sharkey, Joe Louis, and others have gone through the ritual. Dressed in a gold robe and wearing white see-through trunks, with peep holes up the sides, he looked relaxed, but determined. He held up his right hand for the television cameras and said: “I’m ready to go.” Then he departed, refusing to give any interviews. “He doesn’t want anything to happen to disturb his concentration,” said Frazier’s brother, Tom. All’s fanfare Ali strode in with his usual retinue and fanfare. Smiling and waving, he weighed-In and then began his non-stop spiel. “Frazier didn’t want to face me at the weigh-in because he is nervous,” Ali shouted. “He is frightened. I am stronger than I have ever been. I will be dancing and moving. I predict no contest. *TII fight the way 1 shoulda fought the first time. No gimmicks. No humour. I won’t hang on the ropes

; and get caught in any icomers. This will be an [amateur fighting a profesi sional. “I’ll be so fast everybody will be changing money.” As Ali left the ring he stopped to kiss small babies hoisted towards him by proud mothers. “1 won’t predict what round I will win,” Ali said, “but I will tell you this. 1 had a call from Washington. They told me about the energy crisis, so I promised to make it short and help them out.” Trainer confident Mr A. Dundee, All’s trainer, said: “I have never predicted before, but I thins Ali will win in about toe sixth." Dundee’s counterpart. Mr E. Futch, said: “Joe is determined and in the best shape I have seen him. He will win." George Foreman. the world heavy-weight cham pion, in a brass-studded suede suit, and Ken Norton, ranked third in the world Boxing Association ratings after Foreman and A!:, attended the weigh-in. “1 pick Frazier. He is an old friend of mine," said Norton. “1 don’t care who wins.” said Foreman, the world champion. “I want the [winner. I will fight him in my own back yard.”