55 Years Ago Today, Muhammad Ali Met Joe Frazier in the 'Fight of the Century'

They call it the "fight of the century."

In one corner was Muhammad Ali, the "most charismatic and controversial athlete of the 20th century." In the other corner was Joe Frazier, who had just earned the heavyweight title belt. Both were undefeated. According to Boxing News 24/7, it is still regarded by many as "THE fight."

"It was one of the most publicized and talked about sporting events of all time," according to Sports History Network. More than 300 million people viewed the fight worldwide, History.com reported. It happened on March 8, 1971. But who won? And why is the fight considered so significant? The full fight is available on YouTube.

There Was a Political Dimension to the Bout, Which Occurred During the Height of the Vietnam War

Both Ali and Frazier could lay claim to the heavyweight title, and neither had been beaten. However, the fight transcended sports, according to Boxing News 24/7.

The boxing match occurred during the Vietnam War protest era, and that site reported, Frazier's supporters tended to support the establishment, whereas Ali's were against the war. Thus, the fight became a proxy battle for the ideological and political divide, which was raging in the country.

How did Ali lose his title? According to Sports History Network, he was stripped of the title and "banned from boxing in most states" when he refused to serve in Vietnam due to his religious beliefs. Frazier then won the title, but not initially against Ali. This set up a clash with enormous political symbolism when they met in the ring. According to Sports History Network, both were undefeated and Olympic gold medalists on top of it; their personalities were different, though, with Ali considered brash and cocky, and Frazier more "humble."

“If I thought that my going to Vietnam would help any of the millions of Black people in this country,” Ali declared, according to History.com, “you wouldn’t have to send for me, I’d go. But it won’t. Going to war with these people won’t help my people one bit. I’d rather go to jail.”

The two boxers also had two different styles, Boxing News 24/7, noted, with Ali being known as the "Boxer," and Frazier, the "Puncher." Broadcaster Tim Ryan described Frazier as "a workaday guy, who lived the way he fought: just get in there, throw a hundred punches, be strong, and mind your own business," History.com reported, adding that Frazier had urged President Richard Nixon to give Ali clemency and made no political statements himself, but still became a proxy for establishment support.

Joe Frazier Won the 'Fight of the Century' After 15 Rounds

(L-R) American heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali (1942 - 2016) (red trunks) throws a punch on current champion Joe Frazier (1944 - 2011) (green trunks) during their 'Fight of the Century' bout at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, March 8, 1971. Frazier won a decision after 15 rounds. For Ali, who was stripped of his title for his political views, this was his first actual career loss in the ring.

(Photo by Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty Images)

The fight took place at Madison Square Garden, with Frank Sinatra serving as a photographer and Burt Lancaster announcing, according to the Sports History Network.

What happened? "Ali was using his reach advantage to keep Frazier from getting inside, and he was piling up points with his jab. But Frazier’s style was to keep moving forward. He was relentless," Sports History Network explains.

Frazier ended up winning the fight. "After 15 rounds of fighting, Frazier received the title by a unanimous decision. But a few years later, Ali would make a comeback by defeating George Foreman for the title," NPR reported.

According to History.com, "The fight itself lived up to the hype. Ali took control early, but by the sixth he began to tire, weakened by the long layoff and by Frazier’s punches. But even in the ring he continued the verbal taunting he had deployed during the build-up." In the 15th round, Frazier knocked Ali down, ensuring the victory, the site noted.

“I often felt bad for Joe,” photographer John Shearer said, according to an article on the website of UNC Charlotte.

“He was completely miscast as the bad guy in the fight. In so many of the pictures I made of him that winter, when he’s with friends and relaxed, there’s something genuinely charming there but something in his face suggests that if you scratched the surface, you’d find a world of other feelings."

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source https://www.mensjournal.com/sports/muhammad-ali-joe-frazier-in-the-fight-of-the-century-video