ESPN: CLASSIC BATTLE LINES: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER I (TV)
Summary
One in this series of documentaries detailing memorable moments in sports history.
This episode details the boxing rivalry between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and their first fight on March 8th, 1971. It begins by detailing their upbringings; Frazier is born and raised in the rural town of Beaufort, South Carolina in an impoverished family, working on a farm in his teen years to support them. At the age of fifteen he leaves for Philadelphia and gets a job at a meat packing facility. At this time he becomes interested in boxing and takes lessons at a local gym; he becomes noted for his tenacity and ability to defeat opponents much larger than him. Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, hails from Louisville, Kentucky, and from an early age proves to be gregarious, demonstrating a predilection for “flair and flamboyance.” An incident in his childhood inspires him to take up boxing, and in 1960 he wins a gold medal in the boxing event at the Olympics in Rome. His success there makes him an instant celebrity, and in 1964 Frazier also wins an Olympic gold medal for boxing. However, an injury sustained just before his championship fight prevents Frazier from returning to his job, putting him in a precarious financial position. Civic leaders in Philadelphia decide to bankroll Frazier, including using his name to promote a new gymnasium, so that he can pursue boxing full-time.
At the same time, a group in Louisville bankrolls Clay, who on February 25th, 1964, becomes the new heavyweight champion of the world in a major upset. The next day he attracts controversy by announcing his membership in the Nation of Islam, changing his name to Muhammad Ali. Controversy surrounding the Nation of Islam, regarded by many as a “cult” or hate group, attracts negative attention towards Ali. Frazier becomes notorious for his highly aggressive fighting style, including his powerful left hook. Frazier gears up for a potential fight against Ali, but Ali attracts further controversy by refusing to fight in the Vietnam War, citing his status as a conscientious objector. Some agree with Ali’s reasoning, particularly many in the African-American community, but many others are vehemently opposed to his actions. He formally rejects induction into the armed forces and is stripped of his heavyweight title. An elimination tournament is held to determine the new title holder, but Frazier boycotts it. He defeats the New York heavyweight champion and makes an independent claim that he should take Ali’s title. Slowly Ali gains support and insists that he will only give up his title if he is defeated in the ring. Frazier’s claims are ignored and he makes an effort to draw Ali’s attention himself by helping him to get his boxing license back and by lending him money during a time of financial hardship. Ali unexpectedly calls Frazier out, claiming vociferously that he can beat him in the ring, even making a highly public appearance in front of Frazier’s gym in Philadelphia.
In February of 1970, Frazier defeats the winner of the elimination tournament and is again denied the chance to be heavyweight champion, as he is still considered to be inferior to Ali. Several months later Ali is given a boxing license and quickly scores several wins. This leads to Ali and Frazier finally getting their chance to fight each other on March 8th, 1971 for what is at that time the largest purse in boxing history. The fight is promoted in a manner unlike previous boxing matches, using Hollywood veterans to build up hype amongst the public. Frazier trains in Philadelphia while Ali trains in Miami Beach, Florida. In the days leading up to the fight, Ali makes a number of public statements denigrating Frazier, claiming that he has “sold out” to the “white establishment.” Frazier takes these insults personally and tries his best to refute them. This leads to a series of escalating statements by the two, each trying to outdo the other; Ali’s behavior is highly successful at promoting the fight and drawing public interest. The fight also represents a first for broadcast media in its usage of closed-circuit television and commercialization. Tickets for the fight at Madison Square Garden sell out in less than a day. The differing and polarizing nature of each fighter stokes public interest even more as they take sides and ascribe their own values and ideologies to each fighter.
On the day of the fight, Frazier and Ali rehearse and prepare, and Arthur Mercante is selected as the referee merely two hours before the fight. The crowd arrives, representing highly affluent and well-dressed celebrities and individuals. Frazier and Ali take the ring and the fight begins. Frazier does well in the first round by staying close to Ali, and in the second round Ali changes tactics to try to compensate. After seven rounds, Frazier is ahead on points but Ali continues to perform well. In round eleven, a combination of injuries from Frazier’s left hook and fatigue weakens Ali’s position; Frazier fails to capitalize on this, possibly due to Ali’s “mind games.” The next three rounds see each fighter struggling to remain in the ring, each one exhausted by the fight. Early in the fifteenth round, Frazier scores a knockdown on Ali, thus securing his victory by unanimous decision. Despite his loss, Ali is heaped with praise for his performance in the fight. Both fighters suffer from injuries and Frazier is admitted to the hospital. He is diagnosed with kidney damage and languishes in poor condition until he eventually recovers. Ali continues to utilize his charisma for the press, claiming that he is the rightful winner of the fight. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ESPN
- DATE: November 4, 2002
- RUNNING TIME: 0:42:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:74104
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries; Sports
- SUBJECT HEADING: TV - Public affairs/documentaries; TV - Sports
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rich Eisen … Host
- John Schulian … Interviewee
- Bob Lipsyte … Interviewee
- Arthur Mercante … Interviewee
- Bob Costas … Interviewee
- Bert Sugar … Interviewee
- Stan Hochman … Interviewee
- Jerry Izenberg … Interviewee
- Joe Frazier … Interviewee
- Gerald Early … Interviewee
- David Remnick … Interviewee
- Jack Olsen … Interviewee
- Thomas Hauser … Interviewee
- Joey Goldstein … Interviewee
- Larry Merchant … Interviewee
- Dave Anderson … Interviewee
- Hank Kaplan … Interviewee
- Peter Bonventre … Interviewee
- Harry Edwards … Interviewee
- William Westmoreland … Interviewee
- John Edgar Wideman … Interviewee
- Ron Borges … Interviewee
- Butch Lewis … Interviewee
- Bob Arum … Interviewee
- Jim Brown … Interviewee
- Ferdie Pacheco … Interviewee
- Marvis Frazier … Interviewee
- Spike Lee … Interviewee
- Alvin Cooperman … Interviewee
- Bryant Gumbel … Interviewee
- Angelo Dundee … Interviewee
- Eddie Futch … Interviewee
- Jack Newfield … Interviewee
- Frank Dolson … Interviewee
- Al Bernstein … Interviewee
- Muhammad Ali