“The Fight of the Century”: A Retrospective

Today (January 9) marks the 55th Anniversary of a boxing match; not just any match, “The Fight of the Century.” There are times when boxing hype falls short of expectations. This is not one of those times. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought in Madison Square Garden in the first bout of the greatest rivalry in boxing and one of the greatest rivalries in sports.

It moved beyond boxing and became an event, one that amalgamated sports, society and celebrity. It was a barometer of people’s attitudes and mores about life — far more than two men challenging for a title.

Ali returned from a three-and-a-half year suspension due to his Vietnam War protest and refusal to be drafted. His stance made him a hero within the younger generation and “counter-culture” denizens. Frazier was championed by those who would adhere to “traditional values.” Ali framed it as a ersatz “black vs. white” with most white boxing fans cheering for Frazier whilst African-Americans championed Ali.

All of eyes were on the former world champ, Ali. After his suspension was lifted, Ali fought twice. A third-round knockout of perennial contender Jerry Quarry and a 15-round technical knockout over rugged Oscar Bonavena of Argentina. Bonavena stoked some of the racial fires by constantly calling Ali “Clay” (Ali’s former name was Cassius Clay prior to changing it 1964.) And asking Ali why he never fought in the army during press conferences prior to the bout.

Whilst the world gravitated toward Ali, the champion was Frazier. Frazier won the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council titles from Jimmy Ellis in 1970. Frazier would make his second defense of the title in MSG. His first defense was against power puncher extraordinaire Bob Foster, who moved up from the Light Heavyweight Division but was no match for the natural Heavyweight Frazier and was knocked out in two rounds. Frazier, it should be noted, also did not fight in the Vietnam War as he had a wife and son; although, he said he would have proudly served in the military.

The two had divergent paths to success. Ali was the boxer with footwork never seen before in the ring. His speed was unmatched in the Heavyweight Division. Frazier was the consummate “Philadelphia Fighter” with unparalleled pressure and a buzzsaw mentality of moving forward to land his left hook with punitive measures. The two constants between them were both had a similar accolade — both were Olympic Gold Medalists (Ali in 1960, Frazier in 1964.) Also, they were both undefeated; Ali had a record of 31–0, Frazier’s record was 26–0.

The fight became a spectacle and who loves spectacles more than celebrities? The bout brought an incredible hodge-podge of celebrities in unusual circumstances. Norman Mailer, iconic writer, covered the bout for Life Magazine? His photographer for the bout? Frank Sinatra. Action (and Western) Superstar Burt Lancaster acted as an analyst for the closed-circuit broadcast. Hollywood icons Paul Newman and director John Ford watched the bout at a closed-circuit showing in Beverly Hills. Elvis Presley (and his wife) caught the bout at a closed-circuit showing in Memphis; TN. Bing Cosby had to watch the fight in Radio City Music Hall closed-circuit showing because he could not get a ticket. Other celebrities on hand at the Garden included Robert Redford, Count Basie, Barbara Streisand, Diane Keaton, Sammy Davis Junior, Bob Dylan, Hugh Hefner. Even United States Senators, Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Hubert Humphrey (D-MN) viewed the bout.

Both fighters earned 2.5 million dollars (the largest single payday for any athlete or entertainer in history) for this fight. The broadcast was shown in 50 countries in twelve languages and a total of 300 million people witnessed the event. More people viewed this fight than saw the moon landing two years prior.

Despite the unbelievable pomp and circumstance, the bout still didn’t disappoint.

The opening rounds saw Frazier in his usual style of forward bobbing and weaving trying to get inside. Ali landed a jab and a right to keep him at a distance. Frazier remained dauntless in bobbing and weaving to get inside. He also managed two slip and roll Ali’s jab and his right. Ali moved around in the ring but Ali tried to land a right and a hook to the crouching style of Frazier but only landed partial shots.

Ali tried to shake off the rattling hooks by clinching Frazier’s head and telling anyone who would listen that he wasn’t hurt. Ali’s footwork, though, could not keep Frazier at bay and would fall into moments where he was flatfooted and fall prey to Frazier’s pressure. Ali did try to extend his jab to keep Frazier at an arm’s length while he tried to formulate a plan of attack. Frazier would not allow that and used his left hooks to attack Ali’s body and a solid left to the chin in the opening round.

Frazier continued to keep the pressure mounting during the opening rounds. Frazier’s head movement and style allowed him to slip more punches, although Ali scored with his jab and right. Frazier was dauntless and getting inside and trapping the challenger on the ropes, making him ripe for the left hook to the body and then doubling it with a hook to the jaw. Frazier hurt Ali at the end of the second round with a solid hook to the chin.

Ali started to rally as the opening rounds progressed. He did so by using the jab and some movement to keep distance. When Frazier came inside to work the body, Ali would respond with uppercuts. Ali also started to get the timing of Frazier by slipping Frazier’s punches and landing his jab and right hand. Frazier tried to stem the tide by throwing his left hook at will, but this time to the jaw and not the body.

Ali had to fight moving backward and did so with a short uppercut and a long hook. When he found the room, Ali landed his jab and then move to create distance. A hard lead right landed clean in the fourth round but did not faze “Smokin’ Joe.” Frazier started to punch between Ali’s jab and use left hook over Ali’s jab. Frazier routinely kept Ali in the corner and on the ropes and burrowed forward with his attack. Ali tried to bump Frazier for some distance but it was feckless with constantly aggressive champion, who routinely doubled his hooks with Ali in the corner.

As the opening rounds turned to the middle rounds, Ali started to move more than he did previously in the bout. He moved laterally around the ring to avoid the punishing hooks of Frazier. Ali moved forward with his jab and straight right. Frazier continued to move forward, bobbing and weaving to punch between Ali’s punches with his hook to the jaw. Frazier even taunted Ali during the fifth round by keeping his gloves down and ducking Ali’s shots. Ali, though, started to get some comfort for the first time in the bout by using jab to the jaw and chin of Frazier.

Ali started to move around more and more as the mid-rounds commenced by steeping backward and then to the side. Ali continued to work his jab but Fraizer was committed to his style and still found moments to trap Ali in the ropes and the corner, where he would unleash his brutal (and automatic) left hook to the jaw of Ali. Frazier also managed to move with Ali a bit and cut the ring in half, making Ali far less dangerous with his footwork.

Ali tried everything he could to create some semblance of space and continued to keep his arms extended in an attempt to do so. Ali would also extend his arm and glove to impede Frazier’s vision. Ali would then land his jab and his right hand. However, Frazier countered it with his usual style of moving forward and inside to work the body. Despite that, Ali still shook his head and kept his glove in front of Frazier to frustrate him.

As the mid-rounds, commenced, Frazier bullied Ali to the ropes and work inside on Ali. Ali still attempted to play off the shots of Frazier by saying they did not hurt. Frazier started to get wild with his shots and Ali took advantage of them by landing his jab and short uppercut. Ali, again, would keep his arms extended to keep Fraizer away from him but Frazier would work inside and had answers for every punch Ali threw.

Ali tried some psychological battles by taunting Frazier again by holding his gloves down and daring Frazier to hit him. Frazier would oblige and hit him. However, Ali did start to find some success with his left hook as Frazier would lower his head to roll and weave into Ali. Whilst Frazier still found success with his hooks to the body. Ali would counter with short uppercuts.

The ill will between the two permeated between rounds as the two would jaw at each other. Ali continued to try some movement by fighting backward and landing his jab and then move to the side as Frazier moved forward. Frazier started to vary the power of his hooks by softly landing one and then following it with hard one. Despite Ali’s bravado, Frazier would respond with a hook to the body and a hard right to the head.

The attack started to leave its mark on Ali as he slumped on the ropes and fell prey to Frazier’s left hook in the eighth round. Ali would try anything to make some room against Frazier. He attempted another bump of Frazier when he got too close and would land quick combinations finishing with a hard right to the jaw.

Despite Frazier’s attack, Ali still continued to box and worked his jab and his right after it to impede Frazier’s progress. Despite that, Frazier continued to block and slip Ali’s punches and then landed hard hooks to the head and the body. Despite the frustration of dealing with Frazier’s style, Ali remained dauntless and continued to find ways to rally in the fight.

As the mid-rounds progressed, Ali started to show traces of what made him the dominant champion of the 1960’s. Ali fought off the ropes and landed a clean left hook to the jaw and followed it with a right to the temple as Frazier crouched. Ali hurt Frazier with the hardest shots he threw up to that point late in the ninth round with a series of left hooks and right to the head that hurt Frazier.

Ali tried to capitalize on it as the mid-rounds started to wane with his footwork an keeping Frazier at a distance. However, Frazier’s style would not allow a moment of comfort. Frazier continued to keep Ali on the ropes with his left hook and work the body, to the point where Ali was almost prone on the ropes. Ali tried to push Frazier to the middle of the ring but Frazier would regain the momentum by moving Ali to the ropes with his hook.

Ali still tried to find some room to work his pugilistic magic. Ali could only do that, though, by moving backward with a hard series of hooks and right hand whilst Fraizer continued to wade inside, bobbing and weaving to land his straight right and left hook. Frazier started to get his second wind and would waste no time to get through Ali’s jabs and move forward. Frazier would set his frame low and them come up with a left hook to the head.

Ali tried to form a shell with his arms when Frazier would move forward and catch his breath. Frazier continued to bang away at the shell with success. One left hook to the jaw landed clean and wobbled Ali, who held on for dear life as Frazier battered him with body shots and a hooks to the chin in the 11th round. Despite more Ali bravado of beckoning Frazier forward, the champ obliged and used his right to batter Ali who could barely stand and staggered to the ropes.

Frazier’s comfort came in his relentless of attack as the championship rounds commenced. Frazier routinely trapped Ali in the corner and would attack with his left hooks to the body and changed levels and worked the left hook to the jaw. Ali wobbled but remained upright. The war of attrition started to catch up with Frazier and he started to show signs of exhaustion. He recuperated after moving forward and then resting on Ali. After getting some wind, he would again attack the body with his left hook.

Ali, though, sprung into action with his jab and right hands. Frazier, then, became the showman and taunted Ali. Ali, though, would move back and then to the side with his jabs. Ali tried to desperately box and jab Frazier but Frazier waded through it but would end in clinches. Ali’s jab was his most effective weapon of the fight and he used it to set up his right as Frazier would move forward with his style. Al also managed to counterpunch with his own left hooks and right as Frazier leaned forward.

Frazier would attempt to quell the momentum with his work to the body. Ali would quickly try to regain it with uppercuts and short left hooks to the body.

Ali tried to get the rhythm of Frazier in the last two rounds as Ali’s jab tried to keep Frazier at bay. Ali moved back and landed his hook and right hand as Frazier moved forward. When Frazier caught Ali, it was the body shots that did the damage time and again. Ali landed a hard left hook to the chin but Frazier perpetually seemed ready to have an answer for it with a combination cumulating with a left hook. Ali landed two left hooks to the lunging head of Frazier and then two more rights. Frazier remained constant in moving forward as Frazier landed a hard left hook to the head as the bell rang. In the final round saw Ali landed his jab in rapid form as Frazier moved forward and dug a hard left hook to the body. After a referee break, Frazier moved forward and caught Ali with his gloves down and landed a solid left hook to the jaw that dropped Ali to the canvas. Ali arose as Frazier went for the kill and Ali had to clinch to save himself. Frazier dug away with his body shot and then upstairs to the head. The left and right hooks, followed by a left hook to the chin, hurt Ali on the ropes as Ali was all but exhausted. Ali tried to fight back but Frazier landed harder and harder shots. Ali kept clinching and tried to land his right and left hook. Ali landed a fast combination but Frazier loaded up his left hook and landed on the chin. As the fight drew to a close Frazier dug into Ali’s body as Ali clinched to make it to the end of the fight.

The judges scored the bout 8–6, 9–6 and 11–4 for Frazier. It was Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year in 1971 and was voted the fourth best title fight in boxing history by the same Magazine (Boxing news had it the sixth greatest fight in boxing history.) Frazier went on to win his third (and final) Fighter of the Year from Ring Magazine in 1971. However, he would only defend the title two more times (both fourth round knockouts to lightly regarded contenders Terry Daniels and Ron Stander.) He lost it in 1973 to George Foreman in two rounds in Jamaica (Frazier was knocked down six times in the two rounds.) He would never hold the Heavyweight title again.

Ali fought 11 times after the loss (two of those bouts were held in the Astrodome.) In 1973, he suffered his second loss in his career to Ken Norton (beating Norton in the second and third fights of their trilogy.) Ali would regain the title in 1974 by defeating Foreman and then losing and regaining it one more time against Leon Spinks in 1978.

Ali and Frazier would fight two more times — with Ali as the victor both times. The second bout took place in 1974 (five months after the second Norton fight) in Yankee Stadium. The third bout is considered by many as the greatest fight in boxing history — the “Thrilla In Manila,” nearly a year after Ali regained the Heavyweight title. It would be the only way to outdo “The Fight of the Century.”