NO BOXING LOVER’S LIFE IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A PILGRIMAGE TO THE SPORT’S MOST FAMOUS VENUE, AND THIS PAST JANUARY PROVIDED THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE EDITOR TO CROSS IT OFF HIS BUCKET LIST By Tom Gray THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN
T he fourth incarnation of Madison Square Garden opened on February 11, 1968, above Penn Station. The site’s inaugural boxing event took place three weeks later, when “Smokin’” Joe Frazier faced old amateur rival Buster Mathis for the NYSAC heavyweight championship. That fight took place during the long transition from black- and-white television to color. Costs and technology led to the Frazier vs. Mathis card switching between formats on ABC television, sort of like boxing’s version of The Wizard of Oz . Mathis played the Wicked Witch of the West and melted to the canvas in 11 rounds. The boxing history at The Garden since that time is unmatched by any other venue. Muhammad Ali made five appearances in the new building, including his 1971 Fight of the Century with Frazier. Roberto Duran won his first world championship at MSG when he halted Scottish lightweight Ken Buchanan in 13 rounds the following year. The famed 1984 Olympic team,
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