5 best Muhammad Ali fights of all-time

4. Ali vs. Frazier – March 8, 1971

It may seem weird to rank a contest that’s been dubbed “The Fight of the Century” the fourth best fight of Muhammad Ali’s career. But what his first fight with Joe Frazier really did was start one of the most epic rivalries in the history of boxing, and produce two unforgettable sequels.

Heading into the contest, Frazier was 26-0 and Ali was 31-0. While Ali was considered the baddest man on the planet, Frazier was very much Ali’s equal, and people knew that. What also helped to make this bout significant is the political tensions that came with it. Ali’s opinions on the Vietnam War were extremely well-documented, while Frazier was practically adopted by the pro-war movement.

The fight itself was a tremendous contest, and it was practically even through the first 10 rounds. But in the 11th round, Frazier became the third person ever to knock down Ali, and he was able to seize control from that point on. The fight went the distance, with all three judges scoring it for Frazier, and handing Ali his first professional loss.

Ali was practically immortal up until that point, and nobody ever thought he could’ve lost. But with this loss, he proved to be human after all. While it was an unforgettable moment in Ali’s career, it’s not a loss that defined him. He rattled off 10 straight wins after this contest and later avenged this defeat both times.

If anything, this loss made him better, as it paved the way for some of his most high-profile contests to date.

Next: 3. Ali vs. Liston 2