We are not really in disagreement. Pugilistic dementia is a result of long term trauma to the brain. What I am saying is that the Frazier fights and the success against Foreman gave Ali a false confidence. Foreman laid a beating on him that he somehow survived. Ali continued on. Larry Holmes was beating him to the point that Larry was begging the referee to stop the fight so that he could quit hitting his hero. The Berbick fight was the last straw. Ali was employing the rope-a-dope in both those fights. What I said before, if Frazier had dominated him and won all the fights Ali might have retired and been a pretty normal person at this point. The fact that he survived and, in a sense “conquered” Frazier led him into a false security that led to continue fighting and his current condition.
You may be right on the quotes. Ali built his career on being inflammatory. Nevertheless, there is some evidence that they came to terms with each other and there was a mutual respect after the wars.
Frazier personally didn’t make as much as it may seem. He was syndicated early on by sponsors known as Cloverleaf Productions. That means the investors were getting a good chunk of his earnings. When he stepped into the ring the back of his robe said Cloverleaf Productions.
That doesn’t mean that he should have gone broke. I’m not sure how that happened. I did read several years ago that he was being supported by guys like Mayweather. It is very sad.
Anyone remember the Canadian heavyweight George Chuvalo? He fought Floyd Patterson, Frazier, Foreman, and Ali twice! Amazing tough fighter. They claim he never got knocked off his feet. Frazier and Foreman got TKO’s against Chuvalo but couldn’t knock the guy down. I still remember those fights.
He went the distance both times against Ali. He was one notch away from being heavyweight champ. The other boxers had a little better technique than George.
I saw him recently on Holmes on Homes. A home reno show. They were fixing up a house for George and his Wife. George still looks really good. Doesn’t slur his speech and is very busy talking with kids about avoiding drugs.