Muhammad Ali Season 1 Episode 3 Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-1974)

Muhammad Ali season 1 episode 3, "Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-1974)" delves into the rivalry between boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

The episode takes viewers back to the early 1970s when Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight title and banned from the sport due to his opposition to the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, Joe Frazier had emerged as the new heavyweight champion after defeating Jimmy Ellis in 1970.

As Ali's ban was lifted in 1970, he immediately set his sights on Frazier and began a war of words with his rival, calling him names such as "Uncle Tom" and "gorilla." The two champions finally faced off in what was billed as the "Fight of the Century" in 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The episode offers a detailed look at the buildup to the bout, including the trash-talking and the predictions from both camps. It then goes on to show highlights from the fight, the first time two undefeated heavyweight champions had ever faced each other. The fight lived up to its hype, going the full 15 rounds and resulting in Frazier being declared the winner by unanimous decision.

The episode also addresses the aftermath of the fight and how both Ali and Frazier dealt with their respective victories and losses. For Ali, the loss marked the first defeat of his professional career, and he was forced to look for a way to regain his title. For Frazier, the victory was bittersweet, as he faced criticism from his supporters for not knocking Ali out during the fight.

The episode then takes viewers through the next few years of their rivalry, including the rematch in 1974, where Ali was victorious, and the "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975, which Ali won in what has been described as one of the greatest fights of all time.

Throughout the episode, viewers also get a deeper look at the personal backgrounds and motivations of both Ali and Frazier. For Ali, the episode delves into his political activism, his conversion to Islam, and his public persona as a showman and entertainer. For Frazier, the episode examines his upbringing in poverty in South Carolina and his journey to becoming a champion.

Overall, "Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-1974)" is a fascinating look at one of the greatest rivalries in sports history, delivering an in-depth exploration of both the personal and professional lives of boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.