This content is protected 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. Oh, praise and gratitude aplenty to the occasionally giving boxing gods. I have been searching for some time for a 60FPS version of this fight. Last year I knew that ESPN had broadcasted a 60FPS HD version of the fight, seemingly outta nowhere, but it was at the beginning of the Covid shutdowns. I missed it but thought it not a big issue as it surely would soon make it's way to YouTube. Until it seemingly didn't. I searched and searched with no luck. Of course, the universe being as earlier described, it was here. I just wasn't searching in the right manner. Until today. Searching for the fight using Russian characters I found it nearly at the top of the results list, posted very shortly after the ESPN air date I mentioned a second ago. Of course, right? Please enjoy the fight! Mario 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: https://youtu.be/aDCLJutblUE?t=3587
It seems gutsy, but then again, there was no way around it. This was going to be a good fight. Both were undefeated, and both were dominant up to this point. Both were young, and in their prime. Both were in their late twenties. Both were mad, so both were motivated. And thus, both were in prime condition. They were the right match in styles. Ali was too tricky, too skillful, and too tough to be taken out early, and Joe was too energetic in the later rounds, and too tough to get knocked out by a light puncher like Ali. Not to mention, Ali was pretty much unscathed as a professional at this point in time. Ali had never been dragged into a street fight before. There was every reason to believe this would be the FOTC, and no reason to believe that it wouldn't be.
I only watched this the other day because of the FOTC thread - I'm going to have to watch it again now. Really great quality for 1971!
