Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought three times between 1971 and 1975, and two of those fights are on every list of the greatest heavyweight fights ever. Frazier won the first, the 'Fight of the Century' at Madison Square Garden in 1971, knocking Ali down in the 15th round to hand him his first professional loss. Ali won a non-title rematch in 1974 and then the 'Thrilla in Manila' in 1975, when Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch stopped the fight before the 15th round.
Ali leads 2–1. This page covers all three fights round by round, the politics and insults behind them, a statistical comparison and our verdict.
Head-to-head record
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier: Ali 2–1. Every big-event meeting between the two, oldest first.
| # | Date | Event | Venue | Match | Result | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 8, 1971 | The Fight of the Century | Madison Square Garden, New York | WBA & WBC heavyweight titles | Joe Frazier won | Unanimous decision, 15 rounds |
| 2 | Jan 28, 1974 | Ali vs. Frazier II | Madison Square Garden, New York | NABF heavyweight title (non-world-title) | Muhammad Ali won | Unanimous decision, 12 rounds |
| 3 | Oct 1, 1975 | The Thrilla in Manila | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | WBA & WBC heavyweight titles | Muhammad Ali won | Corner retirement after round 14 |
Every match: our commentary
The Fight of the Century · Mar 8, 1971
Two unbeaten heavyweight champions: Frazier held the titles and Ali was returning from his three-and-a-half-year exile for refusing the draft. Ali boxed well early, Frazier's pressure and left hook took over in the middle rounds, and in the 15th a Frazier left hook put Ali on the canvas. Ali got up, but Frazier won on all three cards.
Ali vs. Frazier II · Jan 28, 1974
Neither man was world champion by then, as Frazier had lost the titles to George Foreman. Ali controlled the distance with his jab and tied Frazier up whenever he got close, frustrating Frazier's corner, and won comfortably on the cards. It set up Ali's title shot against Foreman later that year.
The Thrilla in Manila · Oct 1, 1975
In brutal heat, Ali won the early rounds, Frazier came back with a punishing middle stretch, and Ali took over again in the 13th and 14th, landing heavily on a Frazier whose eyes were nearly shut. Eddie Futch stopped the fight before the 15th despite Frazier's protests. Ali later called it the closest thing to dying he knew.
The backstory
Frazier had supported Ali during his exile, but once the first fight was signed Ali cast Frazier as the establishment's champion and used insults that Frazier never forgave, calling him an 'Uncle Tom' and a 'gorilla'. Frazier's bitterness lasted for decades.
The first fight was framed as a referendum on the Vietnam War and civil rights as much as a boxing match, and it drew celebrities ringside and a worldwide closed-circuit audience. By Manila, Ali was champion again and the personal rivalry was at its worst.
Tale of the tape
| Muhammad Ali | Joe Frazier | |
|---|---|---|
| Height / reach | 6 ft 3 in · 78 in | 5 ft 11.5 in · 73.5 in |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Olympic gold | 1960, light heavyweight | 1964, heavyweight |
| Record after Manila | 49–2 | 32–3 |
| Career record | 56–5 (37 KOs) | 32–4–1 (27 KOs) |
| Signature weapon | Jab, footwork | Left hook |
By the numbers
| Head-to-head stat | Muhammad Ali | Joe Frazier |
|---|---|---|
| Wins vs. each other | 2 | 1 |
| Knockdowns vs. each other | 0 | 1 (1971, round 15) |
| World title fights vs. each other | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Rounds boxed together | 41 | 41 |
How fans and critics reacted
The first and third fights were each named Fight of the Year by The Ring, and both are regularly ranked among the greatest fights in boxing history.
Frazier's resentment of Ali's taunts was well documented for the rest of his life, while Ali later expressed regret for some of what he had said.
Our take
Ali wins the series 2–1 and the most famous fight of the three. Frazier owns the first great win and the only knockdown, and he was the better fighter on the night that mattered most to him.
Our view: this is the greatest rivalry in heavyweight history, and it is closer than the scoreline suggests.
Our verdict: Muhammad Ali.
FAQ
Who won the Fight of the Century?
Joe Frazier, by unanimous decision on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden, after knocking Ali down in the 15th round.
What was the Thrilla in Manila?
Ali and Frazier's third fight, on October 1, 1975 in Quezon City, Philippines. Ali won when Frazier's corner stopped the fight after the 14th round.
How many times did Ali and Frazier fight?
Three times; Ali won two.
More rivalries
Sources: Wikipedia: Fight of the Century · Wikipedia: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II · Wikipedia: Thrilla in Manila. Facts verified Oct 18, 2026.