Muhammad Ali’s first titanic battle with his fiercest rival, Joe Frazier, is an old fight now. A very old fight. It was on this day, March 8 in 1971, when the “Fight of the Century” gripped the entire world.
If any fight fan of a certain age or education hears talk of how purposely loosened ropes played a huge part in the outcome of a fight, they instantly and reflexively think of the heavyweight epic that took place in the heart of Africa back in October of 1974.
Often referred to as a let-down of a fight, certainly compared to the sensational warfare Ali and Frazier engaged in their first and third fights, “Super Fight II,” which took place on this day back in 1974, was nonetheless an interesting fight.
Muhammad Ali and Cus D’Amato: two absolute, there-is-zero-room-for-debate legends, each making an indelible impact on the sport of boxing. Both born on the same day – January 17th; Cus way back in 1908, Ali back in 1942.
Maybe it is due to the sad passing of football legend Pele, but numerous sports writers have, over the New Year period, been busily compiling a mythical – mythical, yes, but highly serious and most carefully, indeed, painfully thought out – ‘Mount Rushmore’ of athletes.
During his long and distinguished ring career, Muhammad Ali was only ever cut once. It was 50 years ago today when Ali, having notched up eight wins since losing “The Fight of the Century” with Joe Frazier, met devastating light-heavyweight king Bob Foster in Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada.
48 long years ago it took place, this at around 4A.M local time (10 PM New York time). It was of course the epic, never to be forgotten “Rumble in the Jungle” between heavyweight superstars Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
It wasn’t much of a fight, not at all – yet the world saw just how super-fast a peaking Muhammad Ali was on this day back in 1966.
When Muhammad Ali upset the “invincible” George Foreman to sensationally regain the heavyweight crown in the African Jungle in October of 1974, everyone knew “The Greatest” had done something truly special.
It was six years ago today.. Back on the day of June 3rd in 2016 – long before anybody had heard of the coronavirus, long before anybody knew the term, social distancing, before HBO did the unthinkable and ditched boxing, before the cruel death of George Floyd – Muhammad Ali passed away.