Heavyweight Legend Reveals Muhammad Ali Begged Him For World Title Shot: “He Called All The Time”

A heavyweight legend has revealed that he once had Muhammad Ali at the end of the phone pleading for his world title.

Right now, three of the heavyweight belts are in the possession of OIeksnadr Uysk and one is with Daniel Dubois. It is widely expected that the winner of Dubois’ next fight with Joseph Parker will go into an undisputed contest with Usyk, but things are not always that simple.

These days there is often plenty of politicking involved in world title fights. It is not always a case of the best taking on the best inside the squared circle.

Boxers have managers and promoters working on their behalf, attending conferences and lobbying the four major governing bodies to try and get their boxers well ranked and in with a shot of fighting for some form of title.

Joe Frazier was once the heavyweight champion of the world when fellow icon Ali had been stripped of both his title and his licence to box after refusing to fight in the Vietnam War.

During those times, when he was broke and out of the ring, Ali would call up Frazier, as ‘Smokin Joe’ once told The Guardian.

“He’d be phoning every other day to say, ‘You got my title, man! You got to let me fight you!'”

Frazier revealed that he went to see the President of the time, Richard Nixon, to make a plea for Ali.

“I want you to give Ali his licence back. I want to beat him up for you.

I was just happy he got his licence back so I could clean him out”

It worked, and after three years away from the sport, Ali got his license back. Frazier went on to defeat Ali during their first meeting in 1971, but ‘The Greatest’ gained revenge by defeating Frazier in two further meetings, the third coming in the famous ‘Thrilla In Manila.’