The Greatest: Muhammad Ali

Joe Frazier, the son of poor farmers, was a fighter’s fighter with a relentless, come-forward approach and devastating left hook. In addition to fighting, he supported his family by working in a Philadelphia slaughterhouse (inspiring the scene in the film Rocky in which the title character practices by hitting slabs of meat). With Ali out of the picture, Frazier captured the vacant title in 1968, eager to gain “a kind of respect that a black man with little education couldn’t get anywhere else” (87). Frazier mounted a perfect record against the best competition available, but he would not be considered the true champion unless he beat Ali. Once Ali made his comeback, the two agreed to a fight in Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971. They had known each other for years, and Frazier had supported Ali in his conversion and exile from boxing. Therefore, when Ali promoted the fight with cruel taunts against Frazier, calling him an “Uncle Tom” who served the white establishment, Frazier felt betrayed since Ali was denying him the respect that he felt he had earned.

Come fight night, Ali tagged Frazier with punch after punch, but Frazier did not slow down, and by the middle rounds, Frazier’s thunderous left hook began to connect.