March 8th, 1971. Muhammad Ali meets Smokin' Joe Frazier, for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship Of The World. The first battle between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier was called "The Fight of the Century." The first time 2 Undefeated Champions faced it each other....
The fight was unique in that for the first time in history it matched an unbeaten former heavyweight champion against the unbeaten current champ. Ali was stripped of his title after refusing induction into the Army in 1967. Since he had not lost the crown in the ring, he proclaimed himself the Peo
ple's Champion. As he entered the ring against Frazier, his record stood at 31-0 with 25 knockouts. In Ali's absence, Frazier won recognition as heavyweight champion by the New York State Athletic Commission after stopping Buster Mathis in 1968 and universal recognition in 1970 after defeating WBA c
hampion Jimmy Ellis. As he climbed into the ring, his record was 26-0 with 23 knockouts. Frazier was 27 years old and in his prime. Ali was 29 and had completed two tune-up fights after three years of inactivity. He first returned to the ring with a third-round TKO of Jerry Quarry on October 26, 197
0 and then stopped Oscar Bonavena in the 15th round on December 7, 1970. Both opponents were formidable contenders. Following the Bonavena fight, Ali called for Frazier. The showdown between Ali and Frazier was the only fight that mattered and the participants were each compensated with a guarante
ed purse of $2.5 million, a record at the time. The Garden was sold out a full month before the fight and ringside tickets were going for a record $150. The promotion of the fight took an ugly turn when Ali chided the champion as an Uncle Tom and said that most white Americans would be rooting for
Frazier. Ali later claimed he was trying to hype the fight, but at the time Frazier was under constant guard by police because he received death threats before the fight. Mercante recalled being in awe of the atmosphere, which included Hollywood stars and national politicians as well as former ch
ampions Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey. The night was simply electric. Once the fighting started, it got even better. ... Ali and Frazier set the standard that night at the Garden. They would meet two more times and their rivalry stands as one of boxing's most dramatic trilogies. Boxers will forever
battle punchers, but few will do it with the skill, grace, courage and determination of Ali and Frazier. They brought the best out of each other and out of the sport of boxing. The Silent Warrior There live a great fighter name Joe, who took his share of blows. They ranged from high to low. He tr
aveled around the globe, and walked the long road home. There lives a great champion named Joe who kept his head held high. He fought the best of men and proved his strength would not die. There live a great man named Joe who was belittled by a loudmouth foe. While his rival would taunt and tease Jo
e silently bore the stings. And then fought like gladiator in the ring. As the years passed swifty by The rounds diminished with time. But Joe's trouble no man could know, and his shame no man would find. No matter how cruel the lyric, No matter how painful the strike. Joe was proud to be Joe. His p
ride no man would take down. His dignity rose with his crown. Long after the final bout ended, After the last bell rang, News reached Joe's old opponent, of the pain his family suffered. The blows weren't intended to hit home But his family still remembers the anguish Their hurt had never ended. Now
Ali could feel Joe's pain, And Ali's worrow could not be relieved. So today Joe stands a great warrior, marked with repect and pride. For all that life has dealt him, He never let strength subside. The two men who fought great battles, became blood brothers in time. For every struggle that Joe surv
ived, For every dispute he endured, to rise, Joe will go down in history as a model for champions to come. While Frazier was a man of few words, Ali was a world of mouth, but he found his place in history. Now his heart can express him well. Joe Frazier was a silent warrior, whom Ali silently admire
d. One could not rise without the other. --- Muhammad Ali ---

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