Training the Greatest: The Story of Ali and Dundee
Angelo Dundee wrapping Muhammad Ali's hands before the Fight of the Century.
Copy of LeRoy Neiman painting on display at the Muhammad Ali Center.
The Return and the "Fight of the Century"
After nearly three-and-a-half years of exile, Muhammad Ali returned to the world of professional boxing. This, however, was not an easy feat.
Most states would still not grant Ali a license to box. In states that would grant Ali a boxing license, arenas that agreed to hold a fight would be protested and the fight would inevitably be cancelled. But, Ali's management team pushed on, for he was hungry to earn his title of Heavyweight Champion back and only one boxer stood in his way: Joe Frazier.
Frazier refused to fight Ali until he could prove that he was ready. Ali proved he was ready by defeating two other boxers in the meantime--Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. Finally, a fight between Ali and Frazier was scheduled for March 8, 1971.
While Angelo Dundee was excited to have his fighter and friend back, he knew that Ali needed work after watching him against Quarry and Bonavena. Ali was still good, but he had lost a step. Dundee had his work cut out for him training Ali before his match with Frazier. As Ali was more popular than ever with both the press and his adoring fans, he said he did not need to train, he was destined to 'whup' Frazier. Dundee was not so sure.
The fight went the distance, and despite Dundee's cries for Ali to "Stop fooling around!" the decision went to Frazier. It was Muhammad Ali's first defeat as a professional boxer. Dundee was convinced it was his own fault, out of superstition, as this was only the second time he had ever worn a sweater with his fighter's name embossed on the back. The first time he did that, his fighter lost as well.
