Heavyweight title bouts starring Muhammad Ali held in New York City
Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer, left an indelible mark on the sport during his career. His battles in New York City, in particular, became iconic, spanning a decade from 1967 to 1977.
In 1967, Ali made his debut as the lineal heavyweight champion in New York City, defeating Zora Folley in the 7th round via TKO at the Madison Square Garden. This victory was the beginning of a series of memorable fights that would take place in the city.
Just three years later, Ali faced off against Oscar Bonavena in his second lineal heavyweight championship bout in New York City. The fight, held at the Garden in 1970, ended in Ali's favour when he defeated Bonavena in the 15th round via TKO.
One of Ali's most famous fights, dubbed as 'The Fight of the Century', occurred in 1971 at the Garden against Joe Frazier. Although Ali lost the bout, he regained the title in a rematch on Jan. 28, 1974, winning by a 12-round decision.
Ali also defended his NABF title against Joe Patterson, the final fight of Patterson's career, on Sept. 20, 1972 at the Garden. Despite Patterson's financial troubles at the time, Ali managed to open a gash above Patterson's left eye in the fourth round, and the fight was stopped after Round 7 due to Patterson's blurred vision.
Angelo Dundee, Ali's trainer in the later years of his career, was by his side for his last fight against Earnie Shavers in 1977. Ali won this final victory, earning him the world heavyweight championship for a record third time, after a close decision on Sept. 29, 1977 at the Garden.
Ali's early career in New York City included fights against Sonny Banks at Madison Square Garden, Billy Daniels at the old St. Nicholas Arena, and Doug Jones at Madison Square Garden.
Interestingly, Ali's first heavyweight title victory was 11 months after his hotly-contested decision victory over Doug Jones at the Garden. His career, marked by resilience and determination, saw him participate in a total of seven lineal heavyweight championship bouts in New York City.
However, Ali's journey was not without setbacks. He lost to Joe Frazier in a unanimous decision and failed to knock out Norton in their third fight on Sept. 28, 1976 at Yankee Stadium.
Throughout his career, Ali's fights in New York City became more than just boxing matches. They were events that captivated the city and the world, solidifying his status as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
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