Standard English commentary version in same 720p 60FPS HD quality but longer can be watched at [ Ссылка ]
I wanted to make this back when I first uploaded this 60FPS version of the fight a yr ago but it was just NOT working out at that time. It was a very difficult edit, lining up the audio was stretching the limits of what I could do at the time and I was finally able to get it accomplished today, and it was still hard as hell though. I just do not like listening to the American broadcast commentary with the actor who's name escapes me at the moment. I have come across a commentary free version of the fight that I hope to one day be able to successfully edit together but as they do not use the same fight footage/shots at all, it is making it really difficult to line things up. Anyway, I hope that it is appreciated by some of ya enough to enjoy it if you should choose to watch
Mario
The so called "Fight of the Century." Can you imagine that? The gall to promote an upcoming fight as "Fight of the Century," and it somehow, unbelievably, pays off and lives up to it's own hype in the eyes of pretty much everyone who watches it. The odds against coming even near living up to that billing, even given the greatness of the men involved, must've been enormous, then add in the fact that the universe often pays us back tenfold when we get any sorta over presumptuous over even the smallest, most trivial of matters. Yes, I bet the odds were near unfathomable. But it DID pay off. It lived up to it's name.
Interesting note: at about 44:06 we see Frazier seemingly outta nowhere wince in pain and point at his eye. The commentary crew missed the ref thumb Frazier breaking the clinch up. Dunphy explains here in link: [ Ссылка ]
Joe Frazier 205 lbs beat Muhammad Ali 215 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15
Date: 1971-03-08
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
Referee: Arthur Mercante 8-6
Judge: Artie Aidala 9-6
Judge: Bill Recht 11-4
WBC World Heavyweight Title (2nd defense by Frazier)
WBA World Heavyweight Title (2nd defense by Frazier)
Each man was guaranteed $2.5 million dollars, the largest single payday for any entertainer or athlete at the time. Tickets to the Garden would be made available to the general public by mail on a first come first served basis. Prices in the arena ranged from $20 for a balcony seat to $150 for ringside. Hundreds of other locations throughout the U.S. and Canada would screen the fight via closed circuit television to fans paying $5 to $15.
Interest in the event was incredible. Radio, television, and the print media were filled with stories discussing the upcoming fight. Few athletic events, be it World Series, Super Bowl or World Cup, had come even close to generating the type of excitement and attention that this prizefight was getting.
Fifty countries had purchased rights to the telecast. The fight was broadcast from ringside in 12 different languages. When the final tallies were added up, it was estimated that 300 million people around the globe had watched the fight. It was the largest audience ever for a television broadcast up to that time. More people had tuned into the fight than had watched the moon landing two years before. In the end, the fight grossed between 18 and 20 million dollars world-wide.
The fight itself became something of a symbol of the country. Leading up to the fight, Ali (who had denounced the Vietnam War) became a symbol of the anti-establishment movement. Meanwhile, Frazier became a symbol of the conservative, pro-war movement. In his autobiography, Frazier acknowledged that while he got an exemption from serving in Vietnam because he had a wife and kids, he would have had no problem serving his country had he been drafted, as it had been so good to him.
Many boxing fans argued that Ali's speed and ability would blind Frazier, while others thought Frazier's superior punching power, combined with Ali's long absence from the ring, would give the advantage to Frazier. On the night of the fight, there were riots in many United States cities, including Chicago, where a whole theater was almost torn apart by angry attendees after the picture went out during the 3rd round and the technical people were unable to fix it.
Notes
"Fight of the Century" was the promotional nickname given to this first match between champion Joe Frazier (26-0, 23 KOs) and challenger Muhammad Ali (31-0, 26 KOs), held on March 8, 1971 at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The term "Fight of the Century" had been used three times before.
Both Ali and Frazier are in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Unofficial AP scorecard: 9-5-1 Frazier.
Unofficial UPI scorecard: 7-7-1 Draw.
Quotes
According to referee Arthur Mercante, the following conversation took place in the ring:
"You know, you're in here with the God tonight" - Ali's attempt to psyche out Frazier
"If you're God, you're in the wrong place tonight" - Frazier's reply
