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A great HBO documentary on Frazier

Was that the one about the "Thrilla in Manilla"? That was an amazing piece of work. I never realized that Frazier and Ali had developed a true hatred for each other. Smokin' Joe finally got fed up with Ali's taunting and insulting remarks and simply decided to go into the ring and bash his brains in. It was hinted in the movie that in fact, Ali's dementia may have had its origins in that fight -- it was truly brutal.

Frazier and Ali had a interesting relationship.

Frazier loaded Ali money and helped Ali get his boxing license back after Ali lost his boxing license because of his opposition to the draft.

Then before their first fight, Ali taunted and insulted Joe, calling him ugly, slow and worst of all, a Uncle Tom. Ali was just trying to build the gate for the fight by creating hype, he really didn't dislike Frazier. However, Frazier took Ali taunts personally and hated Ali the rest of his life. In any case, both men will be bound together by the great fights that they fought against each other.

RIP Joe.

I think you’re white washing things. Ali did worse than call him an Uncle Tom. He called him a gorilla. He genuinely hurt Frazier. Ali also called him ignorant. Ali acted like a jackass. It was no longer about building up media attention. Ali was simply an arrogant, cruel, Muslim bastard who didn’t give a crap about anyone but himself.

It took Ali 30 years to apologize: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20010316&slug=digs16

Ali was NOT just promoting the fight. He was getting at Frazier. It was part of his strategy.