>>He will be remembered especially for his epic battles with Muhammad Ali. The two are inextricably linked. The first time they met in the ring was, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say, the most anticipated boxing match in history. Both were unbeaten. Frazier was the reigning champ and Ali, the former unbeaten champ, was back from his banishment for refusing to fight in Vietnam. "I ain't got nothing against them Viet Congs," he said. They were completely different in every way other than being great boxers. Frazier the straight ahead banger, a man of few words. Ali the dancer, a man of many words, a torrent of them, no off button. A peacock. "Can you believe how pretty I am?" we would say, only half in jest.
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>If I am entirely honest, the first thing coming to mind is his devastating loss against Foreman after having beaten Ali.
>Ali then winning after "rope a dope" was expected - the first match I had no idea what would happen,
>but remember as it took place on my birthday - was in switzerland skiing that time...
>But yes, I was surprised how much punishment Joe took in manila.

That was supposed to be "he would say" in my post, as I'm sure you figured out.

It's funny how people's reputations change over time. When George Foreman devastated Frazier he was like the unstoppable villain in a "Rocky" movie. IIRC he knocked Frazier down six times, the last a blow that literally lifted Frazier off his feet. Time moved on, Foreman lost his title -- to Ali in the famous rope-a-dope fight -- and is now best known as the amiable pitchman for a kitchen grill. Go figure.

UPDATE: That Time photo gallery of Ali is worth checking out. I especially like #9, 10, and 11. When Joe goes, soon by the sound of it, it's going to be big news. When Ali goes it will be headline news the world over. At one time he was the most well known person on the planet.