March 8th, 1971, Madison Square Garden, New York, USA. A small, illuminated square of canvas. Camera lenses point from every direction, the world is watching. In the surrounding seats an unlikely mix of spectators rub shoulders - the cream of Hollywood, music stars, gangsters, pimps and politicians. Outside touts are making a killing, asking astronomical prices for the hottest ticket in town. In order to gain the best view in the house, legendary singer Frank Sinatra has become an accredited press photographer. In opposite corners of the ring are Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, the first time two undefeated heavyweight fighters...
Latest episodes
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27 min ↗
Ep 7: Nas interview - bonus episode
Hip hop legend Nas joins Nihal Arthanayake to discuss the making of 'The Fight of The Century - Ali v Frazier' and why the story of the two fighters still resonates in the twenty f…
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43 min ↗
Ep 6: March 8th '71
March 8th '71: Nearly four years after they first met in 1967, the eyes of the world are on a small, illuminated square of canvas in New York's Madison Square Garden as Muhammad Al…
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48 min ↗
Ep 5: 1971 - The Deal
Boxing gets the full Hollywood Treatment as Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier finally agree a deal to meet in the ring. The numbers are astronomical and break new boundaries in sports p…
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46 min ↗
Ep 4: 1970 - Georgia on my mind
With the spectre of a prison sentence hanging over Muhammad Ali due to his refusal to be drafted, politicians and businessmen manoeuvre behind the scenes to try and secure him a bo…
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41 min ↗
Ep 3: 1969 - The Super Fight
As America prepares to put a man on the moon, Muhammad Ali is still banned from boxing and needs to find other sources of income. One unusual offer of cash comes from producer Murr…
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48 min ↗
Ep 2: 1968 - America On The Brink
1968 and America is a nation divided, violently driven apart on racial fault lines and the ongoing war in South East Asia that is claiming thousands of American lives. Against this…
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49 min ↗
Ep 1: 1967 - Public Enemy No.1
1967 - America is on the brink. Over 400,000 US troops are embroiled in a divisive war in South East Asia, while at home the counterculture, fuelled by new drugs, is taking hold. I…
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2 min ↗
Welcome to The Fight Of The Century
Hip hop legend Nas takes you ringside, to the street and back in time to an event watched by over 300 million people that transcended sport and changed the world forever.