The Fight of the Century between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali commences. Frazier wins in 15 rounds via unanimous decision.
Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as The Fight, was a heavyweight championship boxing match between WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and former undisputed heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, on Monday, March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.The fight is widely regarded as the biggest boxing match in history and arguably the single most anticipated and publicized sporting event ever. It was the first time ever that two undefeated boxers who held or had held the world Heavyweight title fought each other for that title.
The bout held broad appeal for many Americans, including non-boxing and non-sport fans. Ali, who had been stripped of his titles by boxing authorities for refusing to submit to the draft for the Vietnam war, had become a symbol of the anti-establishment public during his government-imposed exile from the ring, while Frazier had been adopted by the pro-war public.
Frazier won in 15 rounds by unanimous decision. It was the first of a trio of fights, followed by the rematch fights Super Fight II (1974) and Thrilla in Manila (1975), both won by Ali.