Ali beats Frazier in clash of daughters

Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier surprised the critics and delighted the fans by slugging it out for eight furious rounds before Ali won a points decision in central New York state on Friday.

While the two fighters gave ample evidence of their inexperience, throwing wild, off-balance punches, they treated the crowd of about 6,500 to a display of guts and determination that did their famous fathers proud.

Judge Don Ackerman scored the fight 75-75, Tommy Hicks made it 76-76 and Frankie Adams had Ali winning 79-73.

Joe Frazier was ringside to watch his 39-year-old daughter, who fought like a Frazier, always moving forward, looking to get in close to land one of her looping left hooks.

Showing her refusal to be intimidated, Frazier also hit Ali long after the bell sounded to end the fourth round.

Muhammad Ali was in Brooklyn, Michigan, for a cameo appearance at a NASCAR event.

His 23-year-old daughter had the stronger punches, especially on the inside. She, too, reminded ringsiders of Muhammad Ali when she held Frazier behind the head with her left hand and punched her in the head with the right.

NO KNOCKDOWNS

There were no knockdowns in the fight. Frazier had a swelling beneath her left eye and at the end she went back to her corner and kissed her father on the cheek.

"She's wild," Ali said after the fight. "I said before the fight there's not going to be a rematch. I also said I was going to knock her out and I didn't do that. I didn't think she was going to get me tangled up like she did."

Frazier, who clapped her hands as the decision was announced, said that maybe the public would demand a rematch.

"I feel fantastic," Frazier said. "My family is here with me, and I feel like a winner."

Frazier now has a 7-1 career record. Ali is 10-0.

Ali-Frazier IV, as it was billed, was certainly not a classic battle of skilled warriors but the atmosphere surrounding the famous daughters had a classic, old-time feel to it.

The bout was held in a tent set up outside the Turning Stone casino on this sovereign American Indian nation in central New York State.

There was an electricity to the event which was helped by the presence of top former fighters in town for the 12th-annual induction weekend at the nearby Boxing Hall of Fame.

Those given a warm reception by the crowd included local hero Carmen Basillio, Jose Torres, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, Sugar Ray Leonard and Felix Trinidad.

BROAD SMILE

Jacqui Frazier entered the ring first. Wearing a short black robe with white lettering, she flashed a broad smile and toured the ring waving to the crowd and blowing kisses.

The unsmiling Ali, in a sparkling white robe with "Ali" written in black, came in a few minutes later.

Frazier, still grinning, danced over to Ali and threw air punches in her direction. Ali bounced on her toes and stared at the 39-year-old mother of three, and the pair finally went to their own corners.

The two women fought at a furious pace from the opening bell. At the end of the first round, the crowd was chanting, "Ali, Ali, Ali" -- the old chant from the days when her father was a ring hero.

The second round was a repeat of the first. By the third, Ali was landing shorter and more powerful punches. At one point she landed a flurry of at least six straight punches.

But whenever it appeared that Ali had Frazier in trouble, Joe's daughter would come back to catch her opponent with looping punches.

Frazier came on strong in the final round and stunned Ali with a left hook. She followed it with a right-left combination as the crowd cheered wildly.

But Ali's stronger, more accurate punches earned her a narrow victory.