By Thomas Gerbasi
Over the years, it’s become increasingly difficult to show or tell something new about Muhammad Ali, and since the passing of “The Greatest” in June, that task has turned nearly impossible.
A daunting prospect indeed for the popular Canadian brand Roots of Fight, who turned from sports-themed clothing producers to documentary filmmakers for “Roots of Fight Presents: Ali: Birth Of The Greatest,” which premieres on Spike TV Friday night at 11:15pm.
And they pulled it off.
Sure, the stories are familiar to the hardcore boxing crowd, but there are enough new wrinkles thrown in to make it compelling viewing throughout. And more important is the focus of the film and the timing of it.
Choosing to center on the 1971 “Fight of the Century” between Ali and Joe Frazier is an interesting angle, because the premise is that Ali’s first loss is what began the world’s love affair with him. It was a bout that saw him show heart and grit yet still come up on the short end of the scorecards against his heated rival, and it showed him to be human to a world that saw him as Superman. At least the portion of the world that stood by him after several tumultuous years in which his stand against the Vietnam War and alliance with the Nation of Islam made him a polarizing figure.
And with the recent protest by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick making headlines, and Knick superstar Carmelo Anthony calling his fellow athletes to arms to stand up for social change, the timing of this doc is perfect, even if only to remind viewers what kind of person Ali was, and how his adherence to his own moral code was more important than the next endorsement or paycheck.
It made Ali-Frazier no mere prizefight, but a clash that separated a nation, and while HBO did a spectacular job with their 2000 documentary on the same fight, 16 years later, Roots of Fight has found a way to complement that film without the benefit of having several of the principals (Ali, Frazier, Angelo Dundee, Yank Durham and Arthur Mercante Sr) still alive and available to give their view of that magical night.
Despite this, interviews with George Lois, Neal Marshall, Ed O’Neill and George Kalinsky do a nice job of bringing the outside the ring stories to life, while the boxing world is well represented by Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hauser and Steve Farhood.
In describing the fight, Tyson may have captured the 15-round classic the best by saying, “There weren’t any simple rounds,” in Madison Square Garden that night, and one of the rounds that was far from simple was the 11th, a frame that saw Ali nearly stopped by Frazier, and one that gets a full and nuanced treatment. It’s a reminder that this was no mere fight, and in a poignant comment, Tyson recalls his trainer and mentor Cus D’Amato telling him, “What you're doing is entertainment. This is fighting.”
It sure was, and there were few nights more glorious in the ring, making “Ali: Birth Of The Greatest” a must see.
