Muhammad Ali And Joe Frazier Agree To End 30 Years Of Quarreling

Jet, April 2, 2001

It took 30 years for Muhammad Ali to apologize to his memorable opponent, Joe Frazier, but it was genuine.

The New York Times reported that Ali said he was wrong to call Frazier an "Uncle Tom" and "too ugly to be the champ" 30 years ago before the first of their three boxing matches.

Frazier, who for years was bitter about Ali's comments, outpointed Ali in what was billed as "The Fight" on March 8, 1971, in Madison Square Garden. They fought twice more, with Ali winning both times.

On the recent anniversary of Frazier's victory over Ali, Frazier said, "Hey man, just come on and give me a hug and let's get on with our lives."

Ali was recently in New York to accept the Humanitarian Award of United Cerebral Palsy of New York City and he told the New York Times he agrees with Frazier.

"In a way, Joe's right. I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have said. Called him names I shouldn't have called him. I apologize for that. I'm sorry. It was all meant to promote the fight."

Frazier embraced the apology. "I accept that," he said in a telephone interview with the Times from Wildwood, NJ. "I'll accept it, shake his hand and hug him when I see him. This has been going on too long.... Life's too short."

Perhaps they will get their chance to greet when their daughters (Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde) step into the ring and fight each other on June 8.