Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-74) Smokin' Joe won but lost After his 15-round unanimous-decision victory over Ali in their first fight at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, Frazier was ...

When Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier for the first time, on March 8, 1971, it was about as big a deal as 20th century sports produced. The match was unprecedented in its scale and its significance.

Muhammad Ali, left, shares a laugh with Joe Frazier, right, in his training room during his training for his bout with Leon Spinks, not pictured, at the Superdome in New Orleans on Sept. 13, 1978.

Smokin' Joe won but lost After his 15-round unanimous-decision victory over Ali in their first fight at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, Frazier was arguably the one who endured more ...

He hurt Ali badly in the 11th round -- the same round Ali slipped on a wet spot and went to the canvas -- and landed a crushing left hook 25 seconds into the 15th round that put Ali down for real.

Muhammad Ali in red trunks, and Joe Frazier in green trunks, during round 5 or 6 of their bout at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971. (John Lindsay/) “Guys can get dejected,” he continued.

Frazier was the first man to beat Muhammad Ali, knocking him down and taking a decision in their first encounter. The fight earned the two pugilists a then-record purse of $2.5 million each.

Boxer Joe Frazier has died. Luke stayed up last night, watching the entire first fight between him and Ali on YouTube. We’re going to talk to famed boxing historian Bert Sugar about the life of ...

Former boxing champion Muhammad Ali leaves after a memorial service for boxing legend Joe Frazier at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia. (Nov. 14, 2011) Credit: AP ...

Muhammad Ali was a former world champion coming into this fight who was in the process of finding his footing again in the world of boxing after a three-year ban stripped him of his belt after he ...

Muhammad Ali is heading to Philadelphia for the funeral of Joe Frazier. A spokesperson, handling funeral details for the Frazier family, tells NBC10 that Ali will arrive in Philadelphia on Sunday ...

On the evening of March 8, 1971, inside a celebrity-packed Madison Square Garden, Muhammad Ali entered the ring wrapped in a red robe with white trim for his “Fight of the Century” with Joe ...