The Fight of the Century

Ali vs. Frazier March 8, 1971

By: Michael Arkush

Narrated by: JD Jackson

It was more than the long-awaited showdown between two superb athletes in their prime, more than the ultimate test of speed and artistry versus power and endurance. It was more than a boxing match, much more. The first meeting between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, transcended the world of sports to become a major international media spectacle with tremendous social and political overtones.

Sportswriter Michael Arkush draws from interviews with Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee; his doctor, Ferdie Pacheco; and more than 100 others to examine how the fight, watched by more than 300 million viewers around the world, ushered in a new era of sports marketing. From then on, every game would be turned into an "event," powered by over-the-top hype and carefully staged pageantry.

This sweeping real-life saga features insightful portraits of both fighters. Among many telling details in this fascinating account, you'll discover why Ali's favorite foil, Howard Cosell, who had defended the champ passionately during his exile, did not call the fight, and how a prominent Hollywood agent and a California businessman teamed up to promote the event. You'll also learn how a little-known Georgia legislator helped make Ali's comeback possible.

©2008 Michael Arkush (P)2020 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Messy facts

Ali wore a red robe into the ring the night of the fight, not a white robe as called out by the author. This is a very simple fact to check. Makes me wonder what else he neglected to fact check.

great narration!

overall a good listen. the narrator did a fantastic job. alot of the book isn't about the fight, but if you like boxing you will like this book

History brought to Life

Thenarrator did such a great job at embodying characters, vivifying their snippets of dialogue to make the book feel like a piece of living history. his Ali impersonation in particular was fantastic.
The description of the actual fight was electric. I felt like was back in 1971 watching it in MSG.