MARCH 8th - Now 37 years later.
Friday, March 7th, 2008It is difficult to believe that it has actually been 37 years since the “Fight of the Century” between two undefeated Heavyweight Champions: Muhammad Ali - The Dancing Master - and Smokin’ Joe Frazier. This tremendous sporting event took place on March 8th, 1971, exactly 37 years to this date, in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
It would be a night to remember. Ali had his title stripped from him for refusing the draft, and Frazier had inherited the title in an elimination tournament. Both fighters were undefeated and both had legitimate claims to the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World.
On this night, Muhammad Ali would put so many knots, lumps, and bruises on Joe Frazier that his head looked like a sack of potatoes. However, Frazier took it all and kept right on top of Ali all night, eventually sending Ali to the canvas in the 15th round with a memorable round-house left hook. While that may have finished off many a fighter, this was the great Muhammad Ali. He took that shot, went down, and was up by the count of 3.
The fight went the distance, and Frazier would capture a unanimous decision and retain the Heavyweight Championship, while Ali suffered his first defeat. Frazier, incidentally, would spend the next 2 weeks after this fight in the hospital.
They would eventually fight two more times, with Ali winning handily, by a 12-round decision, in a later Madison Square Garden rematch a few years later, and then with Ali stopping Frazier after the 14th round in the famous Thrilla’ in Manila.
The March 8th fight in New York, and their 3rd fight (The Thrilla’ in Manila) are both regarded as two of the greatest fights in the history of boxing. And after so many years, it seems like it was only yesterday.
M. Dean
Write On Sports/Muhammad Ali Life
