Rivalries in Sports sell tickets.  Going to a Yankees – Red Sox game is on many Sports fans wish lists.  And seeing Duke play North Carolina in a college basketball game is said to be one of the greatest experiences in Sports.  In the early 70s – there was a boxing match that everyone wanted to see – and it finally happened.

It was on this day, March 8th, 1971, that Ali and Frazier fought for the first time.  The Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier fight had been built up for a long time and the boxing match was one of the most anticipated events in the history of Sports.  Both fighters were undefeated, and in the press, Ali had spoken very negatively about Frazier, which made the fight all the more intriguing.

It was a physical fight to say the least – lasting the full 15 rounds.  Frazier landed heavy punches in the late rounds, and won the bout via a decision.  Ali and Frazier would fight two more times, and while the next two fights were exciting, it is the first fight which still today is said to be one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the Sport.