Photograph Description

Muhammad Ali pre-fight ahead of his clash with Smoking Joe Frazier to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
4th March 1971. When Joe Frazier met Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, the storyline went much deeper than two undefeated heavyweights clashing for the belt. Ali had refused induction in the U.S. Army, was considered radical chic and seemed to embody the culture of the 1960s. Frazier was cast as a champion fighting for the establishment. Frank Sinatra was a ring-side photographer for Life magazine. Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis Jr., Hugh Hefner, Dustin Hoffman and Diana Ross were ringside. Burt Lancaster was part of the closed circuit broadcast team. All that, and the fight actually lived up to its billing as the “Fight of the Century.” After 15 rounds of thrilling toe-to-toe action, Frazier won a unanimous decision. (Photo Monte Fresco/Mirror Trinity Group Archives)