The great Muhammad Ali is still widely regarded as the best heavyweight boxer of all-time.
His incredible hand speed, brilliant reflexes and footwork made him one of the most entertaining fighters that have ever competed in boxing.
His catchphrase ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’ epitomised the way he fought and his work outside of boxing made him one of the most influential sporting figures in history.
But despite all that, Ali’s opponents were often already beaten before they entered the ring due to his personality and confidence.
There was one man though, who spoke back to the great man when they fought in March 1971 at Madison Square Garden.
Speaking to Sir Michael Parkinson on his chat show, Ali revealed that he couldn’t help but laugh when Joe Frazier responded to him in the ring.
Muhammad Ali is widely regarded as the best boxer of all time
Muhammad Ali's brilliant story about Joe Frazier's back-chat
He said: “Only one fella talked back to me and that’s Joe Frazier. I hit Joe Frazier with about 90 punches, if you remember the first fight.
“Hit him with everything, the man took a terrible beating. He wouldn’t fall. I said ‘Are you crazy?’ I hit him then, I said ‘You must be crazy!’
Video: Muhammad Ali on Joe Fraziers back-chat
https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/ylg4gn/muhammad_ali_on_the_only_fighter_that_ever_talked/
“He said ‘That’s right, I’m crazy’ and just kept going. And I laughed. I was in the middle of the biggest fight in history at the time and I was in tickle.”
The pair fought three times during their long and illustrious career’s and both are recognised as two of the best to have ever entered the boxing ring.
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier's epic rivalry
During the first fight that Ali alludes too, Frazier won via unanimous decision before they fought again three years later.
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The rematch took place again at Madison Square Garden and Ali was victorious this time via a unanimous decision.
Their trilogy fight – which is known as the Thrilla in Manila - still goes down as one of the best boxing fights in history.
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The man, nicknamed The Greatest, won the fight after Frazier had to retire in the 14th round and it was estimated to have been watched by one billion viewers.