CONTINUED FROM COVER …
Then, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, David died. He’d been having health problems for a while, but his passing was a shock. I was out of town when it happened, and I didn’t get to say goodbye.
Losing your best friend — your brother — is a horrible thing. It makes life feel dark. But when I was getting ready to speak at David’s funeral, I found a spot of light when I realized that over his years of working with me, David met
with as many as 4,000 of my clients and spoke kind words to every one of them. I never had a single complaint about him (which is really saying something), but I surely heard many compliments. He was such a positive influence on so many people, and I just know every one of those interactions had ripple effects, and those ripples are still going. If you met David and he touched your life, then you know just how amazing he was. Please, if he brightened your day, consider helping his family now in this dark time. Just before David died, Rose suffered a stroke, and her life has been a struggle without him. If you’d like to make a contribution to help cover his funeral expenses, you can call 856-696-8300. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated. My wife Theresa, my staff, and I believe that God has a special place in heaven for David. Although I greatly miss David, that thought helps lift my heart.
-Seymour Wasserstrum
THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY How a Battle of Boxers Captivated the World
On March 8, 1971, all eyes were on the world of boxing as people watched what would become known as “The Fight of the Century.” It was one of the most anticipated matchups the sport had ever arranged: Current heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali were finally facing off, the first time two undefeated boxers would fight each other for the heavyweight title. Spectators were hungry for a battle. Both fighters held rightful claims to the title of world heavyweight champion. Ali won it in 1964 and successfully defended it for several years, but he was stripped of the title during a legal battle over his induction into the U.S. armed forces. In his absence from the sport,
Frazier earned two championship belts through major knockout fights. But when Ali settled his court case and came to reclaim his title, Frazier wasn’t ready to give it up easily. Ringside seats for the fight sold for today’s equivalent of over $1,000. Millions watched the broadcast in over 50 countries around the world, and Madison Square Garden sold out to a crowd of 20,455 spectators. The fighters possessed polar opposite tactics, backgrounds, and social impacts, but when it came to skill, they were evenly matched. The fight captivated the nation. As Sports Illustrated put it at the time, “The thrust of this fight on the public consciousness is incalculable. It has been a ceaseless whir that seems to have grown in decibel with each new soliloquy by Ali, with each dead calm promise by Frazier.” The fight exceeded all expectations with a fully engrossing 15 rounds. For the first quarter of the match, it seemed Ali would best his opponent, but Frazier came back with fury. Even though Ali continued to rise to his feet round after round, Frazier emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, dealing Ali his first professional loss ever. The landmark event highlighted an unforgettable night of skillful prowess like the world had never seen. Even though the title fight was only the beginning of the rivalry between the two boxers, the matchup rightfully took its place as one of the greatest fights in the history of the sport.
2 | 856-696-8300
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker