Muhammad Ali, the legendary heavyweight boxer, admitted that Joe Frazier was "greater than I ever thought he was" after their third and final fight in 1975. This unexpected praise came from a man often considered the greatest boxer in history.
Ali's journey to this realization started back in February 1964 when he won his first world heavyweight championship by knocking out Sonny Liston. He followed that up with a first-round knockout in their 1965 rematch. But it was his rivalry with Joe 'Smokin' Joe' Frazier that truly tested his mettle.
The two fighters faced each other three times. Frazier won their first encounter in March 1971, taking both the WBC and WBA heavyweight titles in a 15-round decision. Ali evened the score in 1974 with a unanimous decision victory in New York City.
Their third and final bout, known as the 'Thrilla in Manila', took place on October 1, 1975. This fight has become one of the most memorable moments in boxing folklore. Ali won when Frazier's corner stopped the fight after the 14th round.
At the post-fight press conference, Ali surprised many with his praise for Frazier:
"He's greater than I ever thought he was, when I say great, his style is a style that only he can be successful with. I think he fought a good fight. The last round was close, it could have gone either way."
Ali's words highlighted Frazier's unique style, which proved effective against even the best in the sport.
This admission came during Ali's second reign as heavyweight champion. He had regained the undisputed title in 1974 with an eighth-round stoppage of George Foreman in the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' in Kinshasa, Zaire. Ali's 'rope-a-dope' technique in that fight became legendary.
Ali held onto the title until February 1978 when he lost to Leon Spinks. His willingness to acknowledge Frazier's greatness showed a level of respect between two fierce rivals that added another layer to their storied history in the ring.
