Facing Ali

Leon Spinks:
After Ali changed it [his name] from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali, everybody else started turning to Muslim. "My name is Cooly Clala Cleely or Hooly Hooly or Walla Walla." What the f*** is that? Well, my name's Leon and there ain't nothing white about that. So what the hell?

Larry Holmes:
The Ali situation, when he didn't want to go [to Vietnam] , I applaud that. I mean, I think people should do that even now, today. That stuff in the middle east is bullshit. We wanna tell them what to do, and I think our government is wrong for doing that.

Joe Frazier:
I just think his [Ali's] purpose was to, probably, get me scared. To get me nervous, you know? But I'd go in the jungle and fight a lion with a toothpick.

George Chuvalo:
Joe [Frazier] always felt kind of betrayed by his own people, I think, because most black people were rooting for Muhammad Ali against Joe Frazier, and Joe Frazier felt more like the average black guy from the ghetto. He was blacker than Ali. He was poorer than Ali. He had a tougher upbringing than Ali.

Ron Lyle:
Joe Frazier had all the fighters' respect in the Top 10. But anybody that ever saw him fight, and understands the game of boxing, will tip their hat to Mr. Joe Frazier.

George Chuvalo:
When George Foreman hits you, it's like a Mack Truck hitting you at 40 miles an hour. And when Joe Frazier hits you, it's like a Pontiac car hitting you at 100 miles an hour. It's a different feel to it, you know? But they both hurt.

Ron Lyle:
I took some shots... I took some shots. Freddy Nunez, the referee, stopped it [the fight]. I couldn't believe it, you know? I'm ahead on all scorecards. "Come on, man! This is my moment!". Am I bitter? Forget about it. I never took it personal. If there don't be no Ali, you think you'd be sitting here talking to Ron Lyle? About what?