Ali’s Daughter Wins Over Frazier’s

Madame Butterfly stung just hard enough.

Laila Ali scored a majority decision over Jacqui Frazier-Lyde on Friday night as the daughters of two of boxing’s greats slugged it out for eight rounds at Turning Stone Casino.

“She’s wild,” the 23-year-old Ali said after improving her record to 10-0. “It’s always a little surprising when you’re actually in the ring with the person fighting them. I know she had feeling behind this fight.”

Joe Frazier was at ringside--Muhammad Ali had a prior commitment--and he watched his oldest daughter fight a game fight.

Frazier-Lyde, 39, entered the ring first. She smiled and waved to the audience. Ali followed moments later, quickly raised her arms in premature triumph, and began a staredown just like their famous fathers once did in their three memorable bouts in the 1970s.

This was no “Thrilla in Manila,” but it was easily the toughest bout for either fighter in their brief careers. And it was fought at a fierce pace, with both women slugging it out in the middle of the ring almost incessantly.

When the decision was announced, Joe Frazier entered the ring and hugged his daughter, a mother of three. It was her first loss after seven consecutive knockouts.

“The Ali camp did not want a rematch called, but maybe public demand will change that,” said Frazier-Lyde, who had promised a knockout. “I feel fantastic. My family is here and I feel like a winner.”

Judge Frankie Adams scored the fight 79-73 for Ali, Tommy Hicks had it even at 76-76 and Don Ackerman had it 77-75 for Ali.

The bout attracted a great deal of attention worldwide, with more than 300 media credentials issued. It took place in an 8,000-seat tent promoters erected on a parking lot behind the casino, and just about every seat was filled at fight time.

All the attention also helped produce a nice return for the two women. Each was guaranteed a six-figure payday.

Will there be another?

“I said before the fight there’s not going to be a rematch,” said Ali, who prepared by training for the last month in Big Bear. “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.”

Ali weighed 160 3/4 pounds. Frazier-Lyde, who has lost nearly 50 pounds, weighed 164.