UNANIMOUS DECISION Ali outboxes Frazier over 12 tough rounds

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 36

UNANIMOUS DECISION Ali outboxes Frazier over 12 tough rounds

'.v / Press Asso-iatiori—Copyright

NEW YORK.

Muhammad Ah had his revenge on Joe Frazier at Madison Square (garden. New York, yesterday (New Zealand time}, gaining a unanimous points decision in a tough, 12-round rematch bout.

Almost three years after his first defeat as a professional, inflicted by Frazier's fists in the same ring, Ali, aged 32. had io use all his skill and experience to subdue his bulldozing opponent.

Afterwards, Frazier said he would like a third light against Ali, who said he would like to give his opponent “another chance.’* I The two former world (heavy-weight champions were (watched by a live audience, (of nearly 21,000 and hun-f deeds of millions of viewers (on closed circuit television .iaround the world.

They were estimated to have earned about SNZ2m each for their night’s work. The referee, Mr A. Perez, awarded six rounds to Ali, five to Frazier and one shared. One judge, Mr J. Gordon, awarded eight rounds (to Ali and four to Frazier, (Mr A. Castellno, the other I judge awarded seven rounds |to Ali, four to Frazier and [one shared. Array of punches

The bruising battle was marked by the vast array of punches used by Ali in his bid to stop the 30-year-old Frazier’s bull-like rushes—switching jabs, crosses, uppercuts, and hooks from both hands. It was a right to remember, being probably more vicious than the first meeting between the two in March, 1971. For long periods Frazier appeared completely impervious to the rain of blows unleashed by Ali. He took everything Ali could hit him with, and kept boring with left, and right hooks to All’s stomach and head. Storm weathered

Ali backed away, danced, counter-punched and used the ropes, but could never get away from the relentless Frazier. Half way through the fight, it. seemed'that Frazier was beginning to wear down his taller and heavier opponent by his strength-sap-ping hooks. But Ali weathered the storm.

The finest boxing was in round eight, when Ali bombarded Frazier with a range of punches that almost put the smaller man down. But Frazier, who for the first time appeared to be hurt, rallied in the next round, and continued his assault. Ali was on his toes and dancing round Frazier with minutes of blinding punching in this round, evoking memories of the days he called himself “the greatest” and told the world he floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.

But. in the ninth round Frazier mocked and grinned at Ali in derision, spitting blood from his mouth, clipping and smashing Ali's head until Ali was forced to back off showing signs of weariness. But he came back to finish strongly and as the huge crowd waited for the decision to be announced, thev set up a tumultuous roar of “Ali. Ali. Ali.”

New opinion Muhammad Ali said alter beating Joe Frazier yesterday that he had been wrong about his opponent. He had thought, before the match that Frazier was finished as a professional fighter, said Ali. "I was wrong, I do not take anything away from him. He fought a tremendous fight and I don’t have any hard feelings about Joe Frazier. I would like to give Joe another chance.”

The possibility of a third fight between the two men is very strong, as Frazier, who thought the fight could have gone either way, said the foremost thing in his( mind was another fight with Ali.

“Tlie fight was very close,” said Frazier. “I thought it could go either way. Yes, I would say I won it. Clay (AH) was holding throughout the whole fight. I told the referee about it, and he did his best to stop it, but he couldn’t control him.”