LAS VEGAS, NV (August 30, 2006) — Next Thursday! September 7, at 9 p.m. ET, OLN will televise the third installment of “Fight Night: Top Rank’s Legends of the Ring,” hosted by Michael Buffer. Next week’s classic features the rarely seen second bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Two great fighters with distinctly different personalities meet up again at Madison Square Garden in the sequel to the “Fight of the Century.” .
Many consider this fight to be Ali’s finest post-exile performance. In addition to avenging his loss, Ali’s victory over Frazier led to his immediate challenge of world champion George Foreman, who had dethroned Frazier the previous year. Ali hurt Frazier badly in the second round, but referee Tony Perez mistakenly stopped the round with 20 seconds remaining. By the time Perez realized his mistake, it was too late for Ali to take advantage. It’s all Ali after that, controlling the fight and shutting down Smokin’ Joe’s offense.
“Fight Night: Top Rank’s Legends of the Ring,” will air during the weeks between the live events of “Fight Night” and will feature classic bouts from Top Rank’s extensive library, many which have not been seen since their original airing. In addition to seeing the fight in its entirety, each episode will also include the back-story of each fight as it happened — plus many will be enhanced to include interviews with the contenders, pre-fight press conferences, the weigh-in, and behind-the-scenes banter between the participants.
“Fight Night: Top Rank’s Legends of the Ring,” made its debut on August 3, with the 15-round Muhammad Ali- Oscar Bonavena NABF title fight, which took place on December 7, 1970. The series also aired Ali-Norton I, “the broken jaw fight,” from 1973. Other classic fights scheduled to air this year include:
* Foreman vs. Morrison
* Duran’s Comeback: Duran vs. Cuevas & Duran vs. Moore
* Hagler vs. Antuofermo I
* Hearns vs. Barkley I & II
* Arguello vs. Mancini
* Carbajal vs. Gonzales I & II
* De La Hoya vs. Brehahl