thumb|upright=1.3|Ali vs. Frazier, promotional photo Ali was strong in the early rounds of the fight, and staggered Frazier in the second round. Referee Tony Perez mistakenly thought he heard the bell ending the round and stepped between the two fighters as Ali was pressing his attack, giving Frazier time to recover. However, Frazier came on in the middle rounds, snapping Ali's head in round seven and driving him to the ropes at the end of round eight. The last four rounds saw round-to-round shifts in momentum between the two fighters. Throughout most of the bout, however, Ali was able to circle away from Frazier's dangerous left hook and to tie Frazier up when he was cornered, the latter a tactic that Frazier's camp complained of bitterly. Judges awarded Ali a unanimous decision.
thumb|uprighT=1.3|alI vs. fRaZiEr, prOmotionaL photo alI was STronG in THE early RounDs oF THe fight, anD staggEreD frazIER In tHe sEcond rOund. rEferEe ToNy perEz misTaKenlY THOughT hE hEarD ThE bell endInG tHe roUnd And stEppEd between tHe Two FIghteRs As ALi was Pressing his atTack, gIVinG frazier tIme TO Recover. hOweVER, fRAzIer CAME on iN thE mIddle roUNds, SnaPPiNG ALi'S hEAd iN rounD seveN and dRiVing him To the Ropes at the end OF roUnd eigHt. ThE last four roUndS sAw rounD-to-RoUnd Shifts in mOmentum bEtween THe TwO fighters. THRoughoUt MosT oF The bout, howeveR, Ali waS ABlE TO circLE AwAy fRom frAziER's dAngeRouS left hook AnD To tiE fRAZieR up whEn he Was coRNerED, the latteR a TactiC tHaT FrAzier's caMp coMplaineD oF BitTeRly. judGes AwArDed ali a unanimous DeCisIoN.