Feature: Boxing's "Fight of the Century" remembered the month

Feature: Boxing's "Fight of the Century" remembered the month ByMark Weisenmiller

TAMPA, the United States, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Boxing and sportsfans are remembering this month a pivotal moment in athletic history-- the 1971 so-called "Fight of the Century between boxers MuhammadAli and Joe Frazier for the undisputed heavyweight championship ofthe world.

Both pugilists were undefeated when they stepped into the boxingring in New York City's Madison Square Garden (MSG). Frazier had 26wins, zero loss, and 23 knockouts. Ali's record was 31 wins, zeroloss, and 25 knockouts. The March 8, 1971 fight was scheduled for 15rounds.

When the annoucement was made in early December of 1970 that Aliand Frazier were to box for the heavyweight title, tickets for thefight immediately became a much valued commodity for the rich andthe powerful.

Among those famous people of show business and other fields whoattended the bout were Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, Michael Caine,Miles Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., the late U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy,painter LeRoy Neiman, who painted boxing action depictions of Aliand Frazier for the weekly sports magazine Sports Illustrated, DianaRoss, Barbara Streisand, U.S. astronaut Alan Shepard, and formerboxing champions Jack Dempsey and Sugar Ray Robinson.

Frank Sinatra, who in his youth boxed before becoming ainternationally recognized entertainer, only got into MSG that nightby being employed as a special photographer for the now defunct LifeMagazine. Movie actor Burt Lancaster was the boxing match's closedcircuit television special commentator because he was a good friendof the bout's producer Jerry Perenchio.

Currently Frazier, now 67 and battling diabetes and high bloodpressure, lives in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area and stilloccasionally trains younger boxers. Ali, 69, has Parkinson's Diseaseand is based in Arizona.

Frazier attended a NBA basketball game on Monday at MSG, but wasnot given much recognition in relation to the 40th anniversary ofthe Fight of the Century. Ali did not commemorate the "Fight of theCentury" but Angelo Dundee, who was Ali's boxing trainer fordecades, did participate in a live online discussion on www.ali.com, which is the web site controlled by those agents who have legallicensing rights to Ali's name.

At the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, "We're alwaysanswering questions about the Fight of the Century. It's such animportant part of Muhammad's legacy," said spokeswoman JeanieKahnke.

Ali was born Cassius Clay in Louisville in January of 1942. In1964, in unison with his decision to become a Muslim, he changed hisname to Muhammad Ali.

Boxing themed magazines and Internet web sites plan tocommemorate the "Fight of the Century" all month long with stories.One of boxing's most famous magazines is The Ring, which has beenpublishing for 90 years.

"Was it the best fight of the century? Probably not," opinedNigel Collins, editor of The ring. "Still, the name fits because itcaptured the imagination of people around the world and pitted twoof the very best heavyweights of the era. Moreover, I can't tell youhow many people have told me that it was that fight that firstperked their interest in boxing."

Richard Mancuso, writer for the sports web site BoxingInsider.com, concurred.

"Yes, I really believe it was the Fight of the Century. Fortyyears later, we're still talking about it and you can't say thatabout many fights. A lot of that has to do with Muhammad Ali, bothhis persona and his incredible boxing talents. I really don't thinkwe'll ever see such a dramatic heavyweight championship fight likethat again."

On April 28, 1967, Ali was stripped of both his boxing licenseand also the heavyweight championship title due to his refusal to beinducted into the U.S. Army. At the time, the U.S. had extensivemilitary operations in Vietnam. Ali's attorneys filed an appeal andin June of 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court, which had previously agreedto hear the case, ruled in Ali's favor. That legal ruling allowedAli to try to win back the heavyweight championship title from JoeFrazier, who had won it in 1970.

Yet Ali had stayed out of boxing for 42 months, due to the 1967ruling. While he stayed in good physical shape, his body was nottoned to fight in boxing matches. Ali spent much of those 42 monthstravelling around the U.S., telling audiences in school gymnasiumsor auditoriums of his innocence and his desire to return tocompetitive boxing.

"The Fight of the Century" is important in athletic history foranother reason -- it was the first major heavyweight championshipmatch to be broadcast on closed-circuit television. Now, in this Ageof the computer, the "Fight of the Century" can be watched onYouTube.

Collins stated: "I recall watching the fight at the PhiladelphiaArena on closed circuit TV. Even though Frazier lived and fought outof Philadelphia, Ali was the favorite of the capacity crowd. Whenthe decision went in Frazier's favor, the fans got very upset, eventhough it was a fair verdict. It was a bit scary for a few minutesbut, other than a few thrown chairs, no damage was done."

Ali and Frazier were each paid 2.5 million U.S. dollars to box inthe "Fight of the Century". Ali's financial advisors invested hismoney in different ventures but Frazier, since his retirement fromboxing, has had a number of businesses that he has started failed.

Mancuso gave two main reasons why the sporting world will neveragain see such an epic and titanic bout for the heavyweightchampionship of the world -- an emphasis on safety in boxing, andthe fact that numerous boxing organizations now exist.

"These days, many championship bouts are only 12 rounds andboxing administrators did that to stress the fact that they aregiving strict attention to the safety of the boxers. When a fight is15 rounds, that gives enough time for both boxers to develop a paceto the match and to develop their skills to the maximum levels.Also, back then in 1971 you only had one legitmate, sanctionedboxing division. Now you have five or six. Half of the time, theaverage boxing fan doesn't even know who the heavyweight champion ofall of those divisions are," said Mancuso.

Frazier won the "Fight of the Century" by a unanimous decision.