With a boxing world that is currently filled with lavish visual displays, clever nicknames and a lot of promotion, it's often difficult for the actual event to live up to it's highly publicized promise.  Through all of the years and many competitions, there is one boxing event that has held it's appeal and remains one of the most legendary in the sport's history.  Simply referred to as 'The Fight of the Century,' the first competition between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali certainly lived up to it's name.

On March 8, 1971, Ali issued a challenge to Frazier at Madison Square Garden in New York.  The much anticipated showdown was the most talked about event since the 1938 competition between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling.  Not only that, but as one of the most honored bouts in boxing history, seven of the night' participants would go on to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.  They include Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, referee Arthur Mercante, matchmaker Teddy Brenner, Garden president Harry Markson, trainers Angelo Dundee and Eddie Futch.  Rounding out the hall of fame inductees from 'The Fight of the Century' is the broadcast team of Don Dunphy and Archie Moore.

After being stripped from his title due to the refusal of induction into the Army in 1967, Muhammad Ali became the self-proclaimed 'People's Champion' because he had not lost the crown inside the ring.  One of the most unique aspects of the matchup between Ali and Frazier was that it marked the first time in history that an undefeated former heavyweight champion would be up against the current undefeated champion.  When Ali stepped into the ring with Frazier, he was 29 years old with a 31-0 record and 25 knockouts.  Frazier, with some impressive numbers of his own, was only 27 and stepped into the ring with a 26-0 record and 23 knockouts.

In addition to the legions of boxing fans that packed Madison Square Garden that night, celebrities such as Bill Cosby, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis Jr. and Hugh Hefner also attended.  The Garden sold out one month prior to the event and ringside seats were being sold at a record price of $150.00 each.

If the fighting styles of each athlete can make a fight, then this pairing was arguably the most complimentary of any two competitors to step into the ring.  Ali was known as the boxer and Frazier was recognized as the puncher.  During the competition, both fighters used their strengths to gain position in the ring.  Speed was key to Ali's plan, while Frazier possessed a powerful left hook.  Although both weighed in at over 200 pounds, the pace was more consistent with that of a lightweight competition. 

Although Ali had earlier predicted a sixth-round knockout, it was Frazier who dominated that round.  During the ninth round, the momentum began to change and Ali took control of the fight.  In an attempt to prove that he still had plenty of punches left to dish, Muhammad Ali needed to regain a lead.  The fight nearly ended within the final 49 seconds of the 11th round, however, as Ali found himself in the corner and took a powerful hit from Frazier.  Another punch landed Ali in the ropes after having buckled his knees, but he miraculously continued and ultimately survived the round. 

As the night concluded, Ali continued to fight for the title, but again suffered a difficult round at the end of the evening.  Although he continued to endure the rounds, the fight was already lost for Ali.  With the judges unanimous decision in favor of Frazier, 'The Fight of the Century' had been decided.  In all, 20,455 witnessed the competition in person and another 300 million more watched from home.  Although they would meet on two more occasions and their rivalry remains one of the most dramatic in history , Ali and Frazier are widely believed to have brought out the best in each other and in the sport of boxing.