Ali-Frazier

By John F. McKenna (McJack): With the recent passing of Philadelphia’s great former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier it brought back the classic 3rd fight in the Trilogy between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.

By Thomas David Drury: It is 35 years since the thriller in Manila and the misconception lingers that Muhammad Ali wanted to quit on his stool before the start of the 15th and final round against smokin Joe Frazier, only for Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, to pull his battered warrior out of the fight.

By John F. McKenna (McJack): So great was the anticipation for the March 8, 1971 showdown between Ali and Frazier that Madison Square Garden was thronged with the most famous celebrities of the day. Frank Sinatra used his influence with Life Magazine to provide him with a camera and assign him to cover the fight [...]

By John F. McKenna (McJack): It is hard to believe that it was forty years ago that Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier squared off for the Heavyweight Championship of the World. The fight was held on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden and was hyped like nothing this author had ever seen. The electricity [...]

By Matt McGrain: When I realised that it was Muhammad Ali up there on the podium about to light the Olympic flame in 1996, my heart sank. The news of Ali’s condition at that time was mostly good – he was described as being “as happy as anyone with each day” amongst other things, but [...]