who were you rooting for in the ali/frazier fight of the century

[TBear]

How long did you have to wait to see it on television? Was it always rebroadcast on wide world off sports with Howard Cosell?

When I browse YouTube it seems that all of the major fights were rebroadcast on ABC's wide world of sports.

A lot were. Some were live though and HBO got into live boxing for the Thrilla in Manila.

[TBear]

It was awhile before I saw the entire fight. Definitely not the following Saturday. But when I did see the fight, it was on ABC.

Being a boxing fan was a lot tougher back then.

It wasn't shown for another three years. It was shown on ABC just days before the rematch with Ali and Frazier providing commentary, which obviously led to the infamous studio scuffle.

You guys are right ABC Wide World of Sports replayed it with Frazier and Ali with Cosell. I had it mixed up with another fight when I mentioned replay.

[joseph5620]

A lot were. Some were live though and HBO got into live boxing for the Thrilla in Manila.

Thanks. I find a lot of them on YouTube and the commentary is always interesting.

[The Surgeon]

Im a Frazier guy. Ali though must have been something else, I mean can u imagine that guy today with all the 24/7 shows, internet and media!?

[Anthony342]

Yeah, not to mention Twitter.

[MisterHardtop]

I'm old enough to remember this fight and I'm old enough to remember that the images were fuzzy, that we had to pay for a cinema ticket and that we were all ALi fans, mum, dad, big brother and two sisters. He was the man, England, nay, the entire UK loves him. Witty, talented and ever so handsome, I wanted to be him. I guess all boys my age did.

...And then the left hook struck and Ali fell. There was stunned silence. I think we all knew Ali was losing the fight but the KD drove the point home. I remember having tears in my eyes as Ali got back up, no longer the glorious visage of immortality. Frazier had reduced him to a mere human, a fallen hero. Frazier hurt him, humiliated him, goaded him in the ring. He did to Ali what no man had ever done before and never would again.

[New England]

my parents hadn't even met yet.

[toooooool]

I used to not like Ali at all when I was younger too,but now I can understand why
he was so popular.He really had an incredible personality and he could fight too.
Watch some old videos of him on talk shows,he was way more entertaining than
all of the hosts,super cool guy.

[MrRolltide91]

Cool. I listened the round by round on radio. I remember it was a Monday night and because it was on closed circuit here, round by round description was all we could get til it was rebroadcast the next week.

monday night?

[Scott9945]

monday night?

For many years big fights always took place on Monday nights.