3) Ali vs. Joe Frazier aka Fight of the Century (8 March 1971)
The Fight of the Century between Mayweather and Pacquiao was a disappointment on many levels, but the original one that took place between Ali and Smokin’ Joe was far from a letdown. During Ali’s incarceration for refusing to be enlisted into the army during the Vietnam War, Frazier rose through the ranks and eventually became heavyweight champion before Ali re-entered the fray.
Before the fight, both outrageously talented boxers were unbeaten, making for a mouthwatering showdown. The venue in the form of New York’s Madison Square Garden certainly helped the bout live up to its ambitious title. Besides a thronging crowd, numerous celebrities – Frank Sinatra among them – were drawn to the event.
The fight was extremely even until round 11 when Frazier began employing his trademark power shots. Smokin’ Joe caught Ali with one of his famous left hooks in the 15th round, after which Ali rapidly leapt back up, but the jury had already reached its verdict – awarding the fight to Frazier by unanimous decision.
The aftermath was massive, with Ali being handed the first defeat of his career, while Frazier became the first boxer to defeat the Greatest.
