On this day in sports, "Smokin"Joe Frazier defeated Jimmy Ellis to claim The Heavyweight Title. The fight which occurred, in 1970, in New York City at Madison Square Garden lasted 5 rounds. Frazier came out victorious after knocking his opponent around in the fourth round he couldn't come out for the fifth.
Prior to the fight, Muhammad Ali held the title, but was stripped of the title in 1968 because of his refusal to enter into the draft. After Frazier won the title many still believed that Ali was the true champion because he didn't lose it to an opponent he was stripped of the title. When Ali returned to the ring, a fight between Ali and Frazier was organized, the media coined it the "Fight of the Century". Frazier defeated Ali by unanimous decision. After holding the title for over two years, Frazier lost the title to George Foreman in 1973.
Prior to the fight, Muhammad Ali held the title, but was stripped of the title in 1968 because of his refusal to enter into the draft. After Frazier won the title many still believed that Ali was the true champion because he didn't lose it to an opponent he was stripped of the title. When Ali returned to the ring, a fight between Ali and Frazier was organized, the media coined it the "Fight of the Century". Frazier defeated Ali by unanimous decision. After holding the title for over two years, Frazier lost the title to George Foreman in 1973.