Back in June 1967, when Muhammad Ali stood his ground and refused induction into the U.S. Army, the boxing world faced a new dilemma. Stripped of his heavyweight title and boxing license, a heated debate ignited over who should rightfully wear the crown of the world’s heavyweight champion. To many fans, Ali still held the throne until someone actually defeated him in the ring or until he hung up his gloves for good. Even Ring magazine, a name synonymous with boxing authority, kept Ali at the top tier of the heavyweight division, despite his forced absence from the sport.
However, the quest for a new heavyweight champion prompted several factions to take action. The WBA organized a tournament that concluded with Jimmy Ellis claiming the title. Meanwhile, key boxing states like New York and Illinois anointed Joe Frazier as their champion after he convincingly defeated Buster Mathis. With Ali fighting his legal battles, the scene was set for an epic clash between Ellis and Frazier.
The showdown took place at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York, where Frazier had previously triumphed over Mathis and Jerry Quarry. Just two weeks before the fight, Ali graciously stepped aside, retiring and relinquishing any claim he had on the title to allow the sport to progress. As the fight approached, Frazier stood as the odds-on favorite, but Ali, never short on opinions, speculated that Ellis could outmaneuver Frazier’s relentless style, thanks to their shared history and Ellis’s knack for boxing finesse. Many enthusiasts warmed to the idea that Ellis, the stylish tactician, held a good chance of outshining Frazier, particularly given his past success against a tough opponent like Oscar Bonavena.
When the bell rang for the first round, Ellis enthusiasts felt vindicated. Before a crowd of approximately eighteen thousand, he showcased precision and strategy, effectively utilizing his jab and direct hits to initially keep Frazier at a distance. It was a graceful start.
Yet, Frazier flipped the narrative from the second round onward. His raw power and relentless approach began to overwhelm Ellis. The fast pace favored Frazier, likening him to a heavyweight version of Henry Armstrong, as he landed fierce blows to both Ellis’s body and head.
By the third round, a monumental left hook from Frazier rattled Ellis, significantly diminishing his chances. For two minutes, Frazier unleashed a torrent of punches that nearly floored Ellis twice. Courage alone carried Jimmy through to the bell, while Frazier wore a confident grin as he returned to his corner.
Ellis’s last-ditch effort to slow Frazier came at the start of the fourth round, firing a series of rights. But they failed to make any impact. With ruthless precision, Frazier closed in, relentlessly pummeling Ellis across the ring. The previous round’s battering left Ellis unable to thwart Frazier’s momentum, and the punches kept connecting.
A flurry of punishing blows put Ellis on the canvas near his corner, and though astonished, the audience saw him rise again after the count; within minutes he had endured a grueling onslaught. Ever valiant, he stood his ground, only to drop a second time just before the round’s end with a jaw-dropping hook that left him flat on his back.
To everyone’s amazement, Ellis was back on his feet, making it to his corner where trainer Angelo Dundee checked in on his condition. Despite attempting to reassure Dundee with his words, Ellis couldn’t convince his trainer, who then signaled to the referee to halt the fight.
Ring magazine made it official weeks later, recognizing Joe Frazier as the world heavyweight champion. Not long after, Muhammad Ali re-entered the ring, securing a TKO victory over Quarry. This set the stage for a thrilling prospect: two unbeaten heavyweights, both with claims to the title, poised to settle the score and answer the burning question—who truly deserved the heavyweight crown? The answer would come only through another exhilarating clash in the ring. — Michael Carbert
