09/10/2025
'Ali and Joe did a lot of damage to each other that night. Both of their faces were mis-shapen afterward. Ali's face was no longer round. Frazier's was all bruised, swollen and cut up. In a way, it was horrible watching their features change. But it was history in the making, an incredible fight.
There were several moments that stand out in my mind. One of them, which I'm glad people don't remember, came in the 10th round. Frazier was a bull of a fighter. When I broke them apart, all I had to do was say, 'Break,' and Ali would float back, but I had to use physical pressure with Joe - Otherwise, he'd just keep coming in. Midway through the tenth round, I broke them, and Joe kept coming, right through me. The little finger of my right hand was extended. And of course, when you're refereeing. you keep your fingernails cut short and smooth so there's no problem. But my finger hit him in the bottom of the eye socket, stuck him hard. He looked at me and said, 'Goddamn, man; keep your hands off me.' And he turned to go back to his corner to clear his eye, saying, 'Damn, I got two men beating up on me.
It was the last round that I remember best. That round showed me that Muhammad Ali was the most valiant fighter I've ever seen. Frazier hit him as hard as a man can be hit. Ali was exhausted. He went down, and anyone else would have stayed on the canvas, but he was up in three seconds. I didn't even have time to pick up a count. I motioned Frazier to a neutral corner. Joe went right there, and when I turned around to face Ali, he was on his feet. I didn't ask if he was all right. The last thing you do is ask a fighter who's been beaten up or is dazed, a fighter who might be hurt, if he wants to continue; because if he's any kind of fighter at all, he'll say yes. And of course, Ali wasn't just any kind of fighter; he was possibly the greatest and most courageous fighter who ever lived. No, it's the referee's job to make a determination, and I never thought of stopping it. The fight was too close. And Ali, while it had been a devastating punch, was back up and very much in control of himself. In fact, he fought better in that round after the knockdown than before it.'
- Arthur Mercante
