Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali
"THE FIGHT" - ALI vs. FRAZIER I
It was time - - at least as far as Muhammad Ali was concerned. Joe Frazier was the Champion. Ali felt that he was the true Champion, not Frazier. Many agreed. Many disagreed. But what was certain was that Frazier had never been defeated. And Muhammad Ali had never been defeated. There were two undefeated Heavyweight Champions claiming the title at the same time. Never in the annals of boxing had such a situation existed. The stage was set for a showdown. It would be Muhammad Ali at 31-0 against "Smokin' Joe" Frazier at 26-0. The date was set for March 8, 1971. Each fighter would receive $2,500,000 - - the largest payday for any fight in boxing history at that time......
The buildup for this fight was tremendous, with newspapers sometimes giving front, center and back-page coverage of commentaries, comparisons and predictions. The excitement would make it one of the greatest sporting events of all time, and the fight, itself, would help to solidify that opinion. On the evening of March 8, 1971, a capacity crowd of fans and celebrities filled New York's Madison Square Garden for what would be one of the most anticipated boxing matches in history.....
At long last, it was fight time. Round 1. Ali vs. Frazier. Muhammad came out quickly and began to throw jabs at Frazier who was bobbing and weaving in his trademark style referred to as "Smoking", while constantly moving towards Muhammad Ali. Ali would throw jabs and rights at Frazier to try and keep him at bay. Frazier would unleash a couple of his vicious left hooks at Ali, which Ali claimed didn't hurt him. Both men fought furiously in that first round, and many say that it was one of the greatest first rounds ever seen in boxing....
And what a fight it had become! Two heavyweights, both champions in their own right, slugging it out round by round. Ali would take over and turn things his way, then Frazier would take over and gain the momentum....
Muhammad Ali Biography,
"The DANCING MASTER"
by N. Hamid
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