*** 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.
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