Joe Frazier defeats Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden in the first bout between two undefeated heavyweight champions.
At a Glance
- Date
- 8 March 1971
- Location
- New York, New York
- Key people
- Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier
- Category
- Sports
- Source
- Boxing records (1971) · Britannica
What It Meant Then
Charged with the politics of the era, it became the most anticipated fight in history.
What It Means Now
The Ali-Frazier rivalry remains a defining chapter in sports.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The 'Fight of the Century'.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-fight-of-the-century/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The 'Fight of the Century'. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-fight-of-the-century/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The 'Fight of the Century'.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-fight-of-the-century/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.