Fight of the Century

[Half Smoke]

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March 8, 1971 - Ali vs. Frazier first fight - that's what they called it

did it live up to its billing_________?__________I think so

YouTube

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[Inner Dirt]

What I most remember a lot of great fights on Wide World of Sports and on for free. 25 years later it cost $49.95 to watch Mike Tyson destroy someone in 3 rounds or less. The last fight I paid for was Tyson's 90 second or so fight with Michael Sphinx.


As for this fight, I don't think there was a better era for heavyweights than the 70's. Ali was amazing, unmatched as far as I am concerned.

[Johnny V]

I think it was a great fight. I remember watching the fight on closed circuit in Charleston S.C. I was in the Navy at the time and I remember betting on Frazier with anyone I could. I had my whole paycheck on the line( which wasn't much at that time but it was all I basically had). I was a big Ali fan but after watching his previous fight with Oscar Bonavena, I just felt Frazier was going to beat him. Frazier almost had him in the 11th and of course knocked Ali down in the 15th but we had no idea Ali could take a punch like he could because no one had really hit him that much before.
I enjoyed watching that fight again between two great athletes. The blow by blow announcing by Don Dunphy was really good. Thanks for posting it.

[jimmyb]

I watched the right at an old movie theater in Waltham, Ma. It lived up to it's billing. Ron Lyle/George Foreman was another fantastic fight as was Hagler/Tommy Hearns. Great era of boxers

[Tor Ekman]

Thrilla in Manila is the best fight EVER, any weight class! Lyle/Foreman was indeed a classic knockdown affair , also Lyle/Quarry was a great fight. The Arguello/Pryor bouts might’ve been the most brutal ever, unfortunately tainted by Pryor being jacked up by whatever Panama Lewis had in that bottle!

[Bustin Stones]

I enjoyed many of the Ali bouts. I also recommend watching the 15th round of Leonard v Benitez.

[horses4courses]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

What I most remember a lot of great fights on Wide World of Sports and on for free. 25 years later it cost $49.95 to watch Mike Tyson destroy someone in 3 rounds or less. The last fight I paid for was Tyson's 90 second or so fight with Michael Sphinx.


As for this fight, I don't think there was a better era for heavyweights than the 70's. Ali was amazing, unmatched as far as I am concerned.

I loved watching many heavyweight fighters during that "Great Era".

Ali, Frazier, Norton, Foreman, et al......
After that it was downhill.....PPV may have had something to do with that.

Ali reigned supreme, imo

[woodbinepmi]

In my opinion the greatest fight in the history of boxing, round 9 is right there with Hagler/Hearns round 1.

YouTube

[jimmyb]

Originally Posted by woodbinepmi

In my opinion the greatest fight in the history of boxing, round 9 is right there with Hagler/Hearns round 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw-ViBSNNhs

What a fight. Never seen this. Thanks for posting!

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by horses4courses

I loved watching many heavyweight fighters during that "Great Era".

Ali, Frazier, Norton, Foreman, et al......
After that it was downhill.....PPV may have had something to do with that.

Ali reigned supreme, imo

I met Norton and watched him train. His trainers took him away from the big city, of course Ken was no dummy and was able to quickly find where they kept the booze and women. The fight he was training for was the loss to Shavers. The only thing wrong with him was that glass jaw. I think of that era Larry Holmes gets nowhere near the accolades he deserves, and Earnie Shavers was an enigma to me.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by woodbinepmi

In my opinion the greatest fight in the history of boxing, round 9 is right there with Hagler/Hearns round 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw-ViBSNNhs

Thanks for posting! That 9th was something, both fighters looked like they were done and came back to life.

[Bustin Stones]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

I met Norton and watched him train. His trainers took him away from the big city, of course Ken was no dummy and was able to quickly find where they kept the booze and women. The fight he was training for was the loss to Shavers. The only thing wrong with him was that glass jaw. I think of that era Larry Holmes gets nowhere near the accolades he deserves, and Earnie Shavers was an enigma to me.

Holmes was a great heavyweight and for some reason did not get the adulation that others received. I guess controversy sells.

[ElKabong]

Ali took 2 of 3 from Frazier, but the original fight was when both were closer to their prime. For that. I'd give the nod to Joe

[ranchwest]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

I met Norton and watched him train. His trainers took him away from the big city, of course Ken was no dummy and was able to quickly find where they kept the booze and women. The fight he was training for was the loss to Shavers. The only thing wrong with him was that glass jaw. I think of that era Larry Holmes gets nowhere near the accolades he deserves, and Earnie Shavers was an enigma to me.

You've brought back a great memory, Norton/Shavers. I told my then F-I-L to not take too long running next door to get beer because it was not going to last long. Sure enough, it was over before he returned.

[woodbinepmi]

Here is the second fight between Ward and Gatti. Round 3 and 10 are unbelievable, these two people were placed on this earth just to beat the hell out of each other, pure gladiators.

YouTube