Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali - March 8, 1971 - Round 8 - 11

Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali
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Joe Frazier defends the heavyweight championship of the world against Muhammad Ali. The fight was called 'The Fight of the Century' and lived up to the hype. The first of a great trilogy and the beginning of one of the most memorable rivalries in the sport.
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Their records at the time (W-L-D):
Muhammad Ali: 31-0
Ernie Terrell: 26-0

[@eltubster14]

These two guys went through hell together. Truly two of the best big men off all time in a day when the heavyweight title really was the most prestigious in all of sport.

[@liberty5069]

11:40 How Ali survived the last 46 seconds of round 11 I'll never know.

[@vincentbarbeau3031]

True. Dr Pacheco, Ali's Physician already said that Ali's corner named that round the terrible 11.

[@bigmouthpiece1]

heart&experience@@vincentbarbeau3031

[@supersquid98]

Great video and quality. One of the greatest fights of all time.

[@bk3k]

No matter how I look at this, the way Frazer is fighting in this match is just makes for more beautiful boxing.

[@Host.of.Nightmarez]

god damnn ali was rocked in the 11th!! great upload i had been looking for this fight in this past and only the last two fights were on youtube

[@sendtosw]

Also, Ali later in life admitted that Joe had won the first fight. This business of "Ali really won the first fight" angers me because it takes away from someone who had so much unjustly taken away from him. Joe Frazier was so ready for this fight he would have died rather than lose to Ali that night, and I will forever give him the glory of having whipped "the Greatest." Joe Frazier "owns" the date March 8, 1971, could have taken on anybody that night, and God bless him.

[@Cychopath99]

Joe Frazier's head movement is really miles better than Tyson's in his peak in this fight ...

[@nickr4837]

frazier had the best head movement ive seen from any fighter at any weight class. tyson did have power in both hands though.

[@liani4589]

Nick

[@alcottdevalte7440]

Lol, no, tyson head movement was much better than frazier head movement.

[@user-nv2wt4hi8t]

Yes, absolutely right.

[@tatodellamora]

Grazie Grande Joe ! Pagine memorabili di uno sport ormai finito ! Che il cielo ti accolga ! Buon Viaggio ..... Tatodellamora

[@redd_xiii]

I miss the KZbin before bots! Great commentary in here!

[@deanladue3151]

Ali barely escaped the 11th round alive, but it also showed his ring smarts at a critical point in the match. Frazier was ready to finish it , but Ali's clowning around made Frazier hesitate just enough for Ali to make out of the round. RIP Muhammad Ali, 🙏 RIP Joe Frazier. 🙏

[@carterconklin8164]

They are both amazing athletes-amazing fight.

[@supersquid98]

Cant wait for the last part!

[@michaelh.2041]

I love how, at 2:10, Frazier just says, "The hell with this sh*t and literally pulls Ali off the ropes and repositions him in the center of the ring.

[@vincentbarbeau3031]

What Foreman should have done in Zaire. But never did.

[@user-nv2wt4hi8t]

@@vincentbarbeau3031 Yeah Joe knew what was up. Even after Manila Joe said 'he ain't roping no dope' and battered Ali's hips and arms when Ali would shell up against the ropes. He'd take precision shots.

[@TheFritzthecat]

Everybody is talking about "dance like a butterfly and sting like a bee" when old Ali Fights are showing. But have you seen in this fight ,what this man was able to took, without went really down. Amazing!! Anybody else had lost this fight by TKO! ALI is the greatest Champ ever standing in the ring even when he lost!!! Greetings from Germany

[@qalamkaar1984]

ALI ❤ is ALI ❤...

[@willis7319]

WAW JOE WAS A HARD MAN, A TRUE CHAMP,RIP

[@druhillbilly]

When an unstoppable force meets an unmovable object.Thank you Mr. Ali , R.I.P. Mr. Frazier

[@JabberCT]

One of my favorite fights by Ali even though he lost. They beat the shit out of each other that night. RIP champ.

[@TheSmithDorian]

The last minute of Round 9 - Daaamn!!!

[@BiffaBacon]

This was Joe's great fight. He could never get the conditioning and fitness to fight like this again

[@vincentbarbeau3031]

True. That was his masterpiece.

[@LeviJohansen]

@BiffaBacon thrilla in manila?

[@antblue363]

1971 was great

[@BumbleBrook]

@ichristian7575 Perhaps You Missed RD 11 & 15?

[@cecilrayharper166]

This was when they still had the Championship Rounds- 13 to 15. Frazier was never the same fighter after this fight, but the night belonged to him!

[@MordorLordSauron]

Wow, he is still standing, almost falling to the ground, but he keeps his body up. Great fight!

[@LeviJohansen]

@Nemesis2151 yeah, I searched for it too, and was very surprised that this one wasn't uploaded. So when I finally found a copy of it, I uploaded it. :D

[@tommyg524]

we all loved you in Beaufort Joe, we knew full well what it was like living there, Tommyg,from BeaufortSC

[@nickr4837]

11:57 look at Joe just chuck Ali off of him. Ali was strong as fuck, when he wanted to octopus hold someone he was always able to, except Joe.

[@ernc1941]

Just saw the 11th round again. Joe had Ali reeling around like a drunkard! What a beating!

[@r2d2socks]

whata great fight

[@ernc1941]

My favorite round is Round 8 which is not much talked about. Frazier landed some wicked left hooks and body shots. Ali barely moved from the ropes and just waited for Frazier to come and attack. Frazier was clearly controlling the fight - at one point he just grabs Ali’s arms and pulls him away from the ropes, only to promptly send him right back to the ropes. At the end of the round, a confident Ali playfully cuffs Ali across the head. I also feel that in Round 9, at about 9:37 - Ali fell from the left hook. Surprised it was called a slippage.

[@lakemagic1]

Greatest Superfight of them all. Listen to sound of punches from both fighters. Im in Ali fan but no man could've beaten Joe Frazier on this night

[@jokelly271]

It was the first knockdown of the fight in my opinion

[@LeviJohansen]

@BoxingPride saved by the bell?

[@larrylongballs9]

Levi Johansen when Joe landed that left hook in the 11th while Ali was in the corner clowning, there was almost 50 seconds left on the clock. That’s a lotta time to survive Smokin Joe trying to seal the deal. Props to Ali for not going down.

[@larrylongballs9]

That left hook was textbook!! Caught Ali right on the chin and snapped his neck left then before he could even acknowledge what happened joe hit him right in the bread basket. Then another hook to the face/neck area. I couldn’t script a better 30 seconds than that whole corner fiasco lol

[@LeviJohansen]

@@larrylongballs9 Ali was saved by the bell more than once. Joe was on point that night, nothing would have stopped him.

[@Kulikov__]

i laughed about some moment in this great fight at 2:07 :D :D just great - they was a friends in and still is!!

[@carrotteeman4008]

Even the boxing experts will tell you the best way to watch a fight is on screen,you get all angles of the fight,when your there live you only get on side view of the fight.Nothing about boxing,I boxed for 4 years @ have been watching boxing for 45 years @ have 180 fights on DVD including ALI-Frazier 1,2,3.I live eat,sleep boxing.Very impressed that you saw the fight live though,you must be older then me.

[@sendtosw]

If you take away Ali's clear loss to Frazier the first time out, you render Ali's comeback not more, but LESS meaningful, less great. Most men would have been too discouraged to embark on the path Ali chose after his loss -- starting back at Square One with fights against all comers, starting with his own former sparring partner Jimmy Ellis. He fought everybody, and whipped himself into shape to face Frazier again and eventually Foreman. Fantastic comeback, greatest in heavyweight boxing.

[@downright_tv]

lol... at 5:46 ali is coming back and 5:58 he's just killing it frazier deserves respect that he can take those bombs and still keeps coming!!

[@fadethetrade]

AT 11:40 you can see the left hook to ali's body was what set up the next shot that almost had ali falling.

[@abedegebede]

unbelievable to watch frazier who is as fit in the 11th round as he was in the first. that speed, that hand movement and the upper body movin up and down, maybe a 100000000 times. every other boxer would probably have died right on the spot.

[@LeviJohansen]

@iiuh1 that's right, when a pressure fighter gets a little older he cannot do it aswell as he used to, frazier was burned out after 12 years, but a boxer like ali and holmes can go on for 20-30 years. like you said; pressure fighting is only effective when you are young.

[@iiuh1]

@SigfridKargElert It's because being a pressure fighter is a lot harder then being a boxer, you alwways have to be in peak physical shape. Your constantly bobbing and weaving, and moving forward all while throwing lots of punches, as well as eating lots of punches too in some cases. Its really a fighting style designed for younger fighters.

[@garrison968]

Looking at 9: 37, I actually think that was a knockdown.

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

Ail slipped on water from Fraziers corner about a second after the punch. The ref saw that and immediately ruled no knock down.

[@MUHAMMADALIzzee]

@ragers66 will can you tell me witch rounds frazier won in this fight ???? if you can write pleas frazier pummelled !! thats why frazier face so badly he near to lost his 2 eyes and blood all his face and ali very clean face

[@snuggletiger]

That was a definite knockdown I like Dunphy's call better then Cosell who went overboard calling Ali going down in the 11th as a slip

[@deepcosmiclove]

Right. The referee blew the call. It was a solid left hook to the jaw that stunned Ali and knocked him down.

[@jeryd2003]

whats one difference about this ali and the ali before the layoff is when he goes to punch its like he's in slow motion for 1/2 second before the punch is thrown in other words from the moment his brain says punch until he actually throws there is a split second delay.. has anyone else noticed this?

[@angelo7513]

Alì affrontò Frazier troppo presto.Neppure un anno dopo il rientro e dopo tre anni di inattività. Se solo fosse arrivato più preparato avrebbe vinto agevolmente. Tuttavia la resistenza di Frazier è straordinaria perchè riesce a rimanere in piedi dopo aver incassato una miriade di pugni al volto che avrebbero atterrato chiunque. E' evidente che,perciò, arrivò all'incontro ben più preparato e concentrato di Alì. Dopo quell'incontro però non è stato più lui. Angelo Balzano

[@strictocreed]

round 8 is the most funny round!!! its juzt so funny!!! What a nice fight!!!

[@Trey029]

5:47-6:03 , what a Rally by Ali !

[@hiesenbergwalt181]

How would they pan out against heavyweights of 2022?

[@questguy]

RIP Joe Frazier...

[@DaNnYnlufc]

Gotta say that slip looked like a knock down to me

[@LeviJohansen]

@supersquid98 Frazier thought so too, he is waiting in the corner for Ali to get the eight count, but is told that is was slip. In an interview, Frazier said: "They said it was a slip, slipped in what? Slipped in this left hook!"

[@sagem210x]

@Gr33nNdY3llow A knockdown occurs when a boxer, after being hit by his opponent: 1) touches the ring floor with some part of his body other than the feet; 2) has any part of his body outside the ropes; 3) is hanging on the ropes helplessly; or 4) is judged to be in a semi-conscious state and unable to continue fighting.

[@STATiSofVITALETHICS]

@aaroncassidy7 i still think that left look like it rocked him a bit and he possibly couldve fell without the wetness in the corner, tough call for the ref

[@hammer44head]

Please kids enough of the lame excuses for ALi. He was in killer shape for this fight and fought a great fight but Joe fought the fight of his life. He was just better that night. Fuckin get over it.

[@RaulGroom]

I asked Angelo right before he died if he thought they should have waited for this fight. He was clear - "No. We were ready." There was no way to prepare for this matchup. It's like riding a bike up the Alps. The only way to train for it is to do it. It's not like Ali ballooned to 300 lbs during his "exile." He was training. He was in good shape. He made Bonavena look like an amateur, and knocked him out in the 15th. You can't get much more ready than that.

[@JohnBarrylizard]

Raul Groom 1970's Ali wasn't the same Ali here as he was before the 3 1/2 year exile. He didn't move as much, didn't have the speed, reflexes or timing. Cus D'Amato said no athlete could be away from the sport for 3 years and come back at a top tier level. Ali Ballooned up to 260lbs. That said, I think this Frazier gives any Ali a tough fight. I think Frazier left part of himself in the ring that night and he was never this good again.

[@RaulGroom]

John Barry Well obviously the long layoff affected him and took away some of his speed and sharpness. But the people saying he wasn't in shape for the fight or that he didn't take Frazier seriously, that's just completely ridiculous. Ali is in great shape in this fight. He's the only guy I can think of who would have got up from that knockdown at the end of round 15, and he got up at like the count of two.

[@JohnBarrylizard]

Raul Groom Oh yeah, I agree with that. I think he was in better shape for this fight than any other fight in the 70's. I also think the Frazier who fought Ali here wasn't the same Frazier who Foreman KO'd so easily. Later in Ali Frazier III they both left part of themselves in the ring in Manila.

[@Christkid]

+Raul Groom Great point. It was the best fight Ali ever lost. He would have defeated anyone else that night. This is by far the greatest heavyweight championship fight of all times. in fact, Ali vs Frazier has the top two greatest fights ever. Thrilla in Manilla 2nd. But in 71 they were much faster and more in their primes

[@gv105468]

love joe fraziers boxing style, too bad noone uses it anymore

[@garrison968]

How Ali survived the last minute of round eleven is really something. And why Frazier didn't go for broke there is puzzling. Ali was out on his feet.

[@loliamadick6124]

Ali had a heart of diamond. even thought he was out on his feet in the eleventh. he still kept going. i fucking love Muhammad Ali he's the king of the galaxy.

[@mr.roberto1898]

LOLiAMaDICK Khaosai Galaxy was king of the flyweights and Samart Payakaroon was the Muay Thai g.o.a.t.

[@LeviJohansen]

@SigfridKargElert I agree 100%, this is why marciano decided to retire, he could sense what was ahead and he didn't like it.

[@sendtosw]

I repeat, and this is the last I'm going to say: I was pulling for Ali, I was a total Ali fan, and even I had to admit that night that Frazier had clearly won. Had they given it to Ali, I would have thought it a bad decision, and the judgment of history is that Frazier won. I think it is monumentally ironic and poetically beautiful, actually, that the greatest fight that the greatest was ever in, and this was his greatest fight, was one he lost.

[@Hipgnostic]

RIPsmokin Joe what a legend...

[@salvihustlin13]

@supersquid98 ....it looked like a trip. Look at their feet at 9:36

[@morgs456]

That was a knockdown at the start of 11

[@keithkimmeysr953]

Dunphy had no idea of what he was talking about pro Ali Frazier held Ali REALLY?

[@Cychopath99]

Yes, even ref Arthur Mechante said Ali could have won if he didn't clown some rounds away. Ali did the same to his own detriment in some of his other important fight s too. He could have been even better if he takes every opponent seriously , but he often cared about showboating more than actually winning the fights impressively ...

[@JohnBarrylizard]

Cychopath99 Ali was also criticized because he didn't finish off his opponents. He once said he wasn't gonna show anymore compassion when he had an opponent hurt, but usually did.

[@user-nv2wt4hi8t]

No, Ali was clowning to try and convince everyone he wasn't hurt when he was getting relentlessly pounded. He wasn't doing it for entertainment he was doing it to survive, to try and psychologically outmanoeuvre Frazier by making him think his beating up Ali wasn't having an effect when really, like as we see in round 11, Frazier was absolutely bullying Ali to the point Ali had to try and show it like he was still in control.

[@vgr112261]

Ali only got in top shape for a handful of post exile fights. He was not in top shape for this one and really needed at least one more tuneup before taking on Joe.

[@aezeno]

hard work is how he won.

[@vipjr1]

IDC wat anyone says from 11:20 to 12:35 takes heart...

[@sendtosw]

Wow. You're the first person I've ever heard say that besides me. I believe that Joe Frazier was more ready than anyone has ever been for a heavyweight championship fight, and he would have died that night rather than lose to Ali...!

[@lotte62]

RIP Joe

[@BumbleBrook]

@DaNnYnlufc Yeah You can Tell by Ali's Reaction-abit Stunned.

[@LeviJohansen]

@musiclover3928 that's what he said. Frazier was dominant, that means he was dominating.... not dominated!

[@andrelebaron]

@primeboxers he was held up by the ropes, that was a KD.

[@LeviJohansen]

@salvihustlin13 yeah, it could very well be that ht tripped in the leg of Frazier. But I believe the punch took away his balance for a few seconds, can't imagine him tripping like that if his feet is 100% under him.

[@1890Groucho]

I saw Joe in an interview. He said he knew he'd hurt Ali in round 11, but he thought Ali might be "playing possum", trying to lure Frazier in. I'm sure he was tired, though not as tired as Ali.

[@carrotteeman4008]

I saw it as a win for Ali,but yes the judges gave it to Frazier.Then they gave Ali the 2nd fight @ we know what happend in the 3rd fight.Remember Ali had been Retired for 3 @ a half years @ I still think he won there first fight.J.Frazier was a great Heavyweight but Ali was the greatest of them all.

[@JuanEmilioBertiniArbelaezJEBA]

Si el usuario reporta alguna anormalidad se lo ataca parando los videos ya es costumbre se depende de alguien que hace esto continuamente

[@garrison968]

Maybe the greatest fight ever. Ali was out on his feet in that 11th, I don't know why Frazier didn't go for broke to knock him out.

[@carrotteeman4008]

Greatest fight ever,did you not see Ali-Frazier 3.

[@Christkid]

+Carrot teeman Superfight 1 was way better both men were in their primes. much faster than 4 1/2 yrs. later.. also, both guys were undefeated champions. the one and only time ever.

[@carrotteeman4008]

David Loera The only time that an undefeated hw champion fought an undefeated hw challenger.The reason the 3rd fight was way better is because both fighters have aged & slowed down enough to make it a blood & guts war.You are the only person I have talked with that thinks their first fight was better than their 3rd & I have talked with alot of people about Frazier vs Ali.\Most boxing experts rank their 3rd fight as the greatest hw fight all time,because they fought like lw.

[@garrison6863]

Don't agree at all. This was Frazier at his best, and Ali at his near best. Both men were faster, younger, and primed. The third fight was really a brawl not a fight.

[@bluflarp]

i dont know how frazier survived ali's onslaught at 11:24.. what a chin on that guy

[@0808lion]

@Gr33nNdY3llow Absolutely correct...I don't know how Ali got away horsing around as he did in that 11th round... unfortunately, looking back, Ali lost the fight from the 11th round onwards...Down the stretch...

[@axesofebil]

1:40 Ali looks confused rope a dope was meant to have the opponent swinging all he had Frazier seemed to be just counting his punches before unloading to the head.

[@2pacinseattle]

I think Ali was playing possum during some of the time he was "hurt". I know he was hurt initially but when he staggered in to the ropes and then backed up like he was dazed and weary @ 12 : 25, I think he was trying to get Frazier to expose himself.

[@LeviJohansen]

@supersquid98 it is because he was better in '71, the fight with Ali really took alot out of Frazier. Foreman once said this: "After beating Muhammad Ali, there was not much left of Joe Frazier. I'm gonna tell you, if I had fought him two years earlier, it would not have been like that." I don't understand how he was able to pull the Thrilla in Manila out of his hat...

[@beatlejim64]

Frazier is the reason that Ali is like he is...

[@examinfo]

Frazier actually pulled Ali off of the ropes! as to say come on man lets fight!

[@wtg2989]

@primeboxers Yeah look at Ali's feet. they said he slipped but his feet barely move. He just swats at air and goes down.

[@supersquid98]

Ali had a hard time hitting Frazier with a right uppercut but Foreman had him down several times with one, is that because Frazier's bob and weave in 1971 is better than 1973 or because Foreman throws a different uppercut than Ali?

[@NessThor2010]

2:10 JOE: COME ON ALI... LETS FIGHT !!

[@tommyg524]

Joe, if it were'nt for that damn hog chasin you down at home, your hurtin your left arm for life, you could have connected with a few more of those lefts', but your left arm would'nt stretch that far, rest in peace Joe,we love you.

[@LuckyBangLoc]

11:41 nearly a knockout, maybe standing count today!!!!

[@JohnBarrylizard]

Why wasn't that ruled a knock down in round 11?

[@RaulGroom]

Ali was wobbled by a left hook just before his foot slipped out from under him when he stepped on a wet spot on the canvas. It was a borderline call that could have gone either way.

[@JohnBarrylizard]

Raul Groom Love Ali but had it been me I would have ruled that a knock down. To me it seemed like a delayed reaction to a devastating punch. In the end it doesn't matter. You just don't find fighters like Ali and Frazier anymore.

[@1890Groucho]

It should have been.

[@mr.roberto1898]

John Barry The same goes with Barney Ross and Henry Armstrong, R.I.P.

[@JohnBarrylizard]

Mr. Roberto So true. Ross is one of the greatest yet largely forgotten. Armstrong may have been the p4p GOAT. I'd easily rank him #1 or #2.

[@liljoerox]

when Ali hits back this is a fun fight but he just seems like he can't be bothered to fight, all he wants to do is clinch

[@gish4265451]

Damn, imagine how it was to watch this fight. Nobody in the 11 years before, even Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson, could touch Ali and now you watch this frazier who beats the shit out of him.

[@iliyasqadry1967]

No anyone know about fraizer but Ali is famous win and lost is the part of the game

[@donaldpalmer5053]

Those short left hook/uppercuts delivered severe punishment to Smokin Joe

[@sendtosw]

Joe Frazier won the first fight by unanimous decision. If the judges had ruled differently, all Madison Square Garden would have erupted in protest. No one booed the decision, everyone knew who had won. Say it all you want, that Ali won. Joe decisively won by unanimous decision. It was his night, his home run in the 15th round. The fact that Ali later beat Joe AND Foreman who annihilated Joe makes Ali AN EVEN GREATER HEAVYWEIGHT. He clearly lost to Frazier, and clearly came back and then some.

[@garrison6863]

I think that was a knockdown, early in the 11th. That was a 10-8 round.

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

Ali slipped on water from Fraziers corner.

[@user-nv2wt4hi8t]

I've always been shocked that wasn't counted as a knockdown. They say Ali slipped but really his legs totally buckled after getting hit flush.

[@supersquid98]

Looked like Ali was dropped at the beginning of round 11. Or am I crazy?

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

Slipped on water.

[@carrotteeman4008]

I think Ali won this fight,although it was the closes of there 3 fights,I think he just brought out the best in ali.I also believe norton beat ali all3 times they met,he just had Ali number,not that he was a bvetter fighter than ali.I have all 6 fights on DVD @ NEVER GET TIRED OF WATCHING these fights.

[@elterrible2007]

I saw Joe's legs buckle in the ninth round after those Ali uppercuts, but his deep hatred of Muhammad kept Joe on his feet!!