With unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua making his highly anticipated U.S. debut at Madison Square Garden against Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday, Sporting News decided to look back at the most memorable heavyweight fights at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
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Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier, March 8, 1971
Billed as “The Fight of the Century.” Muhammad Ali (31-0, 25 KOs) and Joe Frazier (26-0, 23 KOs) walked into Madison Square Garden as undefeated heavyweight champions of the world. Ali doused the fight’s promotion with gasoline to an already-raging fire by calling Frazier everything from “too ugly to be champ” to “too dumb to be champ” and an “Uncle Tom.”
But Ali, appearing in just his third fight since being banned from boxing for nearly three and a half years for refusing to serve in the Vietnam War, quickly realized “Smokin’ Joe” was like no other boxer he'd ever faced. The shorter Frazier, who was giving up five inches in reach, stayed compact and got inside on Ali, constantly applying pressure to “The Greatest.”
That gritty ring work paid dividends when Frazier dropped Ali with a thud via a thunderous left hook in the 15th round en route to his unanimous decision victory — Ali’s first loss. The image of Frazier dropping Ali and the bout itself remain etched in boxing lore permanently as “The Fight of the Century,” still resonates as one of the sweet science’s greatest offerings and a key reason why MSG is also referred to as "The Mecca of Boxing."
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II, Jan. 28, 1974
It took nearly three years for Ali and Frazier to get back in the ring for their highly anticipated rematch. When they did, MSG was the only fitting venue for the gladiators to renew their rivalry. In the time between their two meetings, Ali had gone 12-1, his only loss coming at the hands of Ken Norton (although Ali would even the score by defeating Norton the very next fight). Meanwhile, “Smokin’ Joe” wasn’t nearly as active after defeating Ali, piecing together a 3-1 record. His one loss came when George Foreman flattened him via a second-round TKO in January 1973 — Frazier’s first loss.
Regardless, there was plenty hype swirling around MSG for this rematch. That said, Ali-Frazier II didn't live up to the fireworks of the original: Clinching bogged the pace down. Still, Ali was the more effective puncher and exacted revenge with a unanimous decision of his own. The rivals would clash a third and final time in what was dubbed “The Thrilla in Manila” in October 1975 — a bout also won by Ali.
Evander Holyfield vs. Lennox Lewis, March 13, 1999
Lennox Lewis successfully used his height and reach advantage to control the fight with his jab before piecing together combinations. He clearly won the fight before the Garden crowd. But judges didn’t see it that way, declaring the bout a draw — a total gift to Holyfield, who was able to leave NYC with his WBA and IBF titles in the unification bout. He wouldn’t be so lucky eight months later in Paradise, Nev., though. Lewis exacted his revenge with a unanimous decision win.
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Joe Frazier vs. Buster Mathis, March 4, 1968
Adding intrigue to this fight was the fact that Buster Mathis had defeated Joe Frazier twice in the amateur ranks. But “Smokin’ Joe” made sure to change history at MSG in the pro ranks, scoring an 11th-round TKO in their March 1968 fight.
Mike Tyson vs. Mitch Green, May 20, 1986
Would it surprise you to know that Mike Tyson only fought twice as a pro at Madison Square Garden? The Brownsville, Brooklyn native made his pro debut at the Garden back in May 1986 against Mitch Green. “Iron Mike” defeated Green by unanimous decision, but it wasn’t remembered as much as Tyson-Green II … on the streets of New York City.
Tyson, who would tell the story during his Undisputed Truth play years later, recounting that Green approached him outside of Dapper Dan’s famed fashion boutique in Harlem in August 1988 and started talking a lot of trash. Tyson responded by punching and closing Green’s eye shut. So, Tyson went 2-0 against Green — once at MSG, then on the streets.
Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Louis, Oct. 26, 1951
Growing up, Rocky Marciano revered Joe Louis, who had an 11-year stranglehold on the heavyweight title. But by the time the two met, Marciano was 28 and knocking out everyone in his path while the 37-year-old Louis just wasn’t the same fighter. Marciano proceeded to show Louis how cruel the sport — and Father Time — could be. He knocked Louis down twice during the eighth round, including between the ropes and almost out of the ring, for the TKO. A devastating showing at MSG for Marciano, who finished his career undefeated at 49-0.
Riddick Bowe vs. Andrew Golota, July 11, 1996
Like his fellow Brooklyn native Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe only fought twice at Madison Square Garden. The second of those appearances came in July 1996, when Bowe was paired with Andrew Golota, a then-undefeated heavyweight on the rise. Bowe was coming off scoring an eighth-round TKO in his trilogy fight against Evander Holyfield and wanted to keep the momentum going. Little did he know, he’d been in for one of the most bizarre boxing nights of his career.
Bowe traiied Golota on points, but the Polish fighter couldn’t stop punching “Big Daddy” below the belt. The repeated low-blows earned him a seventh-round disqualification, which sparked an all-out Garden brawl, with members of Bowe’s entourage notoriously hitting Golota with a walkie-talkie in the ring and his trainer, Lou Duva, having to be taken out on a stretcher due to the skirmish. The wild scene paved the way for a rematch in Atlantic City, where Golota once again led in points only to lose the bout by another DQ for more low-blows.
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Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson, Sept. 20, 1972
In the interim of his fights against Frazier, Ali, then 30, proved to be too much for a 37-year-old Floyd Patterson in front of the MSG crowd. Ali had his way with Patterson, paving the way for a seventh-round stoppage. The fight turned out to be the last for Patterson.
Muhammad Ali vs. Earnie Shavers, Sept. 29, 1977
Who’s the strongest puncher Muhammad Ali ever faced? Hint: It’s not Frazier, Norton or Foreman. Ali once commented that the strongest puncher he ever fought was none other than Earnie Shavers.
The Alabama native slammed Ali with a right hand in the second round of their September 1977 fight, letting the heavyweight champion of the world know that he was in for a long night. In the 15th and final round, Ali got the better of the exchanges as the two traded shots, helping power him to a unanimous decision win.
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov, Feb. 23, 2008
The New York City crowd wasn’t a big fan of Wladimir Klitschko’s thorough domination of Sultan Ibragimov, booing his fighting strategy early in the bout and over many of the rounds until the unanimous decision was announced in Klitschko’s favor. The win let Klitschko further unify the heavyweight titles as he added the WBO championship to his IBF and IBO straps that night.
