March 8th 1971 - Fight Of The Century

February 1971

'Training for the Fight of the Century with Sparring Partner Johnny Griffin'

Johnny Griffin, a 6' 1" 185 lb. fighter, with no fear in his eyes, has been here
in upstate New York at the Concord Hotel.

He's here to help World Heavyweight Champion, Joe Frazier, prepare for his March 8th
bout with comebacking Champion, Muhammad Ali.

Griffin, a cool boxer/puncher, has been offering his services to Frazier.
During a recent sparring session, Griffin got the best of Joe, causing some
concern in the Frazier camp.

Johnny rocked Joe with straight right hands, knocking Frazier backwards several times.
Frazier, who seems to have lost his defense of counter-rights, is working on trying to
move to the right.

Frazier, who suffered an injury to his ankle, back in April 1970, has been hampered by a sore bone and muscle. Johnny Griffin, who has sparred with Frazier in the past, says
'Joe was much more difficult to hit last year, but now he can't move as fast. I'm a
little worried, because I can land my right hand over and over.'

The 24 year-old Cleveland, Ohio Heavyweight has been sparring with the Champion for several weeks.
Griffin feels that Joe was a much better fighter last year, when he helped him prepare for Jimmy Ellis.
Johnny, now 15-4-0 (5 KO's), just recently took time off to fight (and win) in a bout with one Willie McMillan.

Johhny said. 'Joe broke his right ankle out in Las Vegas, and that put him out of action for several months.
But, I don't like what I see in Joe now. He doesn't move to his right all that well. Before, if I tried the right
hand, he would just slide to his right and duck under the punch. Now he can't move, and I can't miss.'

 

The greatest sports event in history was Louis over Schmeling II. Easy.

 

Just you wait until October 31st,Alex. I'll haunt you with memories of The Rumble In The Jungle,on it's 37th anniversary !

 

that maybe not a good idea as ali maybe came off the worse of the pair

 

Interesting observation,Mr Butt.

 

well ali took a hell of a beating and frazier much of contributed to the state ali is in today. sad but possibly true

 

More like an accumulation of many fights have contributed to Muhammad's sad condition today.

 

i think the word i used was contributed :good

 

I'm no doctor,but gut feeling tells me that if Muhammad had retired straight after Manilla,things would have been different for him today,healthwise. Frazier's own sad state of health was mainly caused by his bouts with Ali and Foreman,imo.

 

i think a considerable amount of damage had been done during the manila bout to ali . if i were to choose over the last thirty years whose health i would of rather had i would take frazier's hands down

 

Up to a few years ago,I'd have definitely agreed with you. Frazier seems to have gone downhill rapidly recently though.

 

true but at least he had all those years previous that ali has lived just being a shell

 

Its the bst heavyweight fight ever.....Its was the Golden era for boxing...

 

The one night where Good ol' Smokin' Joe made the only credible claim to being a truly great fighter - which was going life and death and winning a reasonably close decision over a 29 year old man who had boxed just twice in four years.