Boxing Gloves with Possible Attribution to “The Fight of the Century” & Joe Frazier

Gloves were given by ringmaster of the fight to the owner’s grandfather.

Presented in this lot are boxing gloves with a possible attribution to Joe Frazier in the Fight of the Century bout against Muhammed Ali on March 8th, 1971 at Madison Square Garden. 

In what remains one of the most iconic and consequential moments in the history of sport, Joe Frazier’s unanimous decision victory over Muhammad Ali in The Fight of the Century crowned him the undisputed heavyweight champion and secured his place in boxing immortality.

Staged at Madison Square Garden before a crowd that included Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen, and a former First Lady, the bout was more than a clash of two undefeated fighters — it was a cultural referendum. Frazier, the reigning champion and embodiment of quiet grit, stood opposite Ali, the exiled former titleholder whose antiwar stance and defiant charisma had divided a nation.

For fifteen brutal rounds, Frazier executed a masterclass in pressure fighting, stalking Ali behind a crushing left hook and unrelenting body work. Despite Ali’s speed and showmanship, it was Frazier’s power and composure that told the story. In the 15th round, Frazier landed a thunderous left hook — arguably the most famous punch in boxing history — sending Ali to the canvas for the first time in his professional career. Frazier would go on to win by unanimous decision, emerging battered but triumphant, and leaving no doubt as to who held the crown.

It was a performance that defined Frazier’s career — equal parts technical brilliance and raw will — and established him as more than just a champion: a symbol of perseverance and dignity in a time of national unrest. Though overshadowed in later years by the mythology of Ali, on that March night, it was Smokin’ Joe who stood alone at the summit of the sport.