Category Archives: Ali

40th Anniversary – FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

*** FLASHBACK *** This article was originally published for viewing exactly 13 years ago (March 5, 2011) on www.dmboxing.com

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

As we approach this week in boxing, something that will forever live in the sport happened forty years ago: Muhammad Ali vs . Joe Frazier – the FIGHT OF THE CENTURY. On March 8, 1971, the boxing world saw the most eagerly anticipated championship fight that I have ever been involved with in my fifty years in boxing.

The fight itself exceeded even its own promotional hype between two fighters unbeaten and having contrasting styles. They both had legitimate claims to the heavyweight title, Ali as lineal champion (31-0 / 25 by KO) and Frazier as the undisputed heavyweight champion (26-0 / 23 by KO) . The guaranteed purses were 2.5 million dollars to each, then a record for a single prize fight.

I will always remember where I was on that Monday night, watching on closed circuit, at the historic Granada Theater, Santa Barbara, California .

The fight took place at Madison Square Garden, New York City, with a star studded audience. The ringside commentators were Don Dunphy and Archie Moore, and my late friend Arthur Mercante served as the referee.

Continue reading 40th Anniversary – FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

Earnie Shavers (R.I.P.)

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

With the recent passing of top rated heavyweight Earnie Shavers on September 1, 2022, the day after his 78th birthday, I am sharing an article that my good friend Jim Amato (R.I.P.) wrote on Shavers which was published on February 11, 2009 on www.dmboxing.com. Also included are a few personal photos of Shavers, and my autographed Sports Illustrated magazine covers; the S.I. articles regard his legendary championship fights with Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes … may Mr. Earnie Shavers rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord!

*** FLASHBACK *** By Jim Amato / Senior Boxing Writer

It was to be the last time the incomparable Muhammad Ali would ever successfully defend the heavyweight championship. It would be held in boxing’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. It would also feature Ohio’s most popular heavyweight of the last quarter century, Earnie Shavers.

The “Acorn” as Ali had dubbed Shavers would be a prohibitive underdog. He was accorded a puncher’s chance at best against the aging but still crafty king of the heavyweights. What transpired the night of September 29, 1977 established Earnie as a legitimate contender and forecast the soon to be demise of “The Greatest”.

Continue reading Earnie Shavers (R.I.P.)

Fight of the Century / 50th Anniversary

*** FLASHBACK *** this article has previously appeared twice on dmboxing.com – dates: March 5, 2011 and March 14, 2016

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

As we have approached this week in boxing, something that will forever live in the history of the sport happened fifty years ago: Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali – the FIGHT OF THE CENTURY.

On March 8, 1971, the boxing world saw the most eagerly anticipated championship fight that I have ever been involved with in my many years in boxing.

The fight itself exceeded even its own promotional hype between two fighters unbeaten and having contrasting styles. They both had legitimate claims to the heavyweight title, Ali as lineal champion (31-0 / 25 by KO) and Frazier as the undisputed heavyweight champion (26-0 / 23 by KO). The guaranteed purses were 2.5 million dollars to each, then a record for a single prize fight.

I will always remember where I was on that Monday night, watching on closed circuit, at the historic Granada Theater, Santa Barbara, California.

The fight took place at Madison Square Garden, New York City, with a star studded audience. The ringside commentators were Don Dunphy, Archie Moore, Burt Lancaster, and my late friend Arthur Mercante served as the referee.

Continue reading Fight of the Century / 50th Anniversary

Muhammad Ali / Revisited … RECAP and VIDEO

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

I recently shared a six part series on my personal accounts of Muhammad Ali. I would like to take this time to say thank you to the many that responded either on my website, Facebook, or the many other boxing blogs that I subscribe to for viewing.

It has now been four years (June 3, 2016) since his passing. I was so honored to have provided, with respect, my short but complete six part series.

Ali is the most recognized sports athlete in my lifetime. May his soul rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Revisited … RECAP and VIDEO

Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #6 of 6)

This is the sixth of a six part series of my personal accounts of Muhammad Ali. In Memory of Ali, I am delighted to have displayed these articles and also to include photos and collectibles for viewing.

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

This is the last of a six part series on Muhammad Ali.  It has truly been my pleasure to share with you my personal accounts of THE GREATEST heavyweight champion in my era of boxing.

For those of you who have missed any of this special series, you can simply go to the menu on this website and click on the category, Ali, to view each part.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #6 of 6)

Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #5 of 6)

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

In part five of my six part series on Muhammad Ali, I would like to give you my personal view of ten incredible highlight facts during his boxing career:

1 ) Ali is the only one to have won the linear heavyweight championship three times. The linear title is recognized by tracing an unbroken lineage of titleholders going back over 100 years, with every champion defeating the previous title holder in the ring.

2 ) Ali has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine 37 times, second only to Michael Jordan.

3 ) According to many boxing historians, they rate Ali as the greatest heavyweight of all time. In my personal rankings I rate Ali #1, just ahead of Joe Louis.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #5 of 6)

Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #4 of 6)

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

In part four of my six part series on Muhammad Ali, I will go back to the time when I started to follow boxing – 1961. It was June of that year and I had just celebrated my thirteenth birthday; as a young boy, I eagerly anticipated every boxing match and its results, as I still do today.

Something else happened in June of 1961 that would be a significant part of a young Cassius Clay’s (“aka” Muhammad Ali) life in boxing. One man, a wrestler named Gorgeous George Wagner, would be the one to install the name “The Greatest” to Clay’s fame, and what came with that was his charisma and showmanship.

A 19 year-old Clay was to have his seventh professional fight vs. Duke Sabedong in Las Vegas. That same week, also in Las Vegas, Gorgeous George was to have a wrestling match vs. Freddie Blassie, with both being promoted by Mel “Red” Greb.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #4 of 6)

Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #2 of 6)

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

In the second installment of my six in a series, I will answer a question
that is most often asked of me, with regards to Muhammad Ali. That
question is – when was Ali at the height of his career?

First of all, I must say that it has been a blessing to witness the greatest
heavyweight champion of this era fight throughout his career (1960 – 1981).

In my opinion, Ali was at his pinnacle during a stretch after the first Floyd
Patterson fight (November 1965) to his final defense against Zora Folley (March 1967) before he was stripped of the heavyweight title.

During those years he defeated, in order: Floyd Patterson, George Chuvalo,
Henry Cooper, Brian London, Karl Mildenberger, Cleveland Williams, Ernie
Terrell, and Zora Folley with the Williams fight being his finest
performance.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #2 of 6)

Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #1 of 6)

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

As there are no current or scheduled fights happening on which to report due to the COVID-19 situation, I am posting six of my personal accounts on Muhammad Ali for your enjoyment.

This six-part series was first published starting back in November 2008 on a monthly basis. So it’s now my pleasure to bring the articles back to you on a weekly basis with each edition to include different Muhammad Ali photos from my private collection.

I will start this series’ first edition, by saying that the best closed-circuit fight that I ever attended was with my father, Daniel J. Martinez, and two of my best friends, Al Garcia and Hector Ybarra, at the Santa Barbara, California “historic” Granada Theater. On March 8, 1971, we saw the most eagerly anticipated championship fight that I have ever been involved with in all my years in boxing … Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali.

I was so excited come fight time that I left my work early on that Monday afternoon just to be sure I was the first one in line to get tickets and the best seats: front row center balcony. I got both to view the fight.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Revisited … (Part #1 of 6)