It was the first year since 1959 that neither Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier or George Foreman had stepped into the professional boxing ring. Officially, Ali was still the WBA heavyweight champion in January of the year – he had won that piece of je

Episode 9 - 1978

Jun 3rd, 2019 22m 35s

In 1978 the heavyweight boxing landscape changed forever. The old, the young, the obscure, the fatal dreamers and the relentless schemers all came together to make it unforgettable. The rumours from 1977 were true: Muhammad Ali would defend his

Episode 8 - 1977

Jun 3rd, 2019 22m 57s

1977 was a year of more demons, epiphanies, more decay, more denial, so many crazy fights and nights. Muhammad Ali was still the champion, he made two defences but men in high boxing places were plotting his end: scheming to put in place a mult

Episode 7 – 1976

Jun 3rd, 2019 22m 46s

When 1976 started, there had been murmurs of discontent about Muhammad Ali. People were talking about him quitting, men and women in the Ali business and onlookers had the same opinion: the end was surely getting closer. Ali would have to soon

Episode 6 - 1975

Jun 3rd, 2019 22m 35s

What a year: Muhammad Ali was the world heavyweight champion and he made four defences. Every time he got in the ring there was a story: some mayhem, something funny, something absurd, something heartbreaking… always some drama. And there was a

Episode 5 - 1974

Jun 3rd, 2019 25m 2s

It was a year of quite ridiculous extremes in fights for the heavyweight championship of the world – there were exotic stops in Venezuela and Zaire – and the world watched a very special fight in late October, one that nobody will ever forget:

Episode 4 – 1973

Jun 3rd, 2019 23m

It was called the Sunshine Showdown and it took place in January 1973 at the National Stadium in Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica. 36,000 people came out for the massacre – nobody in the fight game could believe what they saw in the ring.

Episode 3 - 1972

Jun 3rd, 2019 24m 16s

Frazier had vanished. In 1971, he had beaten Muhammad Ali in the Fight of the Century: dropping the former champion in the 15th and final round to confirm the win. It was a truly great night, a magical fight in Madison Square Garden in front of

Episode 2 - 1971

Jun 3rd, 2019 23m 7s

Joe Frazier was the unbeaten World Heavyweight Champion and Muhammad Ali was the unbeaten former World Heavyweight Champion. It was a unique fight, the world of sport demanded it – the boxing world needed it. The two boxers would make a guarant

Episode 1 - 1970

Jun 3rd, 2019 27m 11s

At the start of 1970 Muhammad Ali was still in boxing exile, Joe Frazier was heavyweight champion of the world and he shared that title with a nice guy named Jimmy Ellis. The Heavyweight Championship of the World was in turmoil: the King was go

1969

Sep 21st, 2018 23m 10s

Steve Bunce's all-encompassing look back at the decade that shaped heavyweight boxing reaches its conclusion. Its 1969 and the politics and skirmishes continue in and out of the ring, all building towards a new era for boxing and the "fight of

1968

Sep 20th, 2018 16m 11s

It's 1968, and as Muhammad Ali continues his time in exile, Steve Bunce moves his attention to those still allowed in the ring as Joe Frazier faces off with Buster Mathis. But even with his gloves off, it is Ali who continues to dominate the he

1967

Sep 19th, 2018 18m 35s

Welcome to 1967: the must-see fight of the year is between Muhammad Ali and the United States Army. Steve Bunce continues his tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship, painting a picture few could believe to b

1966

Sep 18th, 2018 24m 27s

Steve Bunce's journey through the decade that made the heavyweight championship continues in 1966, as politics and sport begin to trade blows. With American soldiers deployed to Vietnam at an ever-increasing rate, Muhammad Ali turns his back on

1965

Sep 17th, 2018 23m 23s

We're halfway through the decade that defined the heavyweight championship. Welcome to 1965: the year Cassius Clay matures from boy to man. Join Steve Bunce as he describes the rematch between Clay and Sonny Liston. The fight is surrounded by f

1964

Sep 16th, 2018 23m 12s

Steve Bunce talks us through what must be the biggest year in the biggest decade in heavyweight championship history: 1964. Casius Clay is unbeaten in 19 fights, but at the tender age of 22 even the bookies agree he is the underdog going into h

1963

Sep 15th, 2018 24m 4s

It's 1963, and Steve Bunce is continuing our tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship. It's all here: every fighter and fight that matters. Sonny Liston is the heavyweight champion but still searching for resp

1962

Sep 14th, 2018 24m 9s

Welcome to 1962: Steve Bunce continues his tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship. Floyd Patterson finally gives Charles Sonny Liston a shot at the title. The fight is expected to be the most profitable in t

1961

Sep 13th, 2018 23m 2s

The year is 1961: We pick up our tour through the best decade in the heavyweight championship in Miami, where heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson is preparing for his third fight with Sweden's Johannson. Can Ingo land a bingo? It's a fantastic

1960

Sep 13th, 2018 22m 25s

The year is 1960: the boxing world is still pining for a champion like Rocky Marciano, a European holds the title for the first time but Floyd Patterson is about to dominate the ring. Sonny Liston is shamefully ignored, and a young Casius Clay

Trailer

Sep 5th, 2018 42s

Join Steve Bunce from September 13th as he unpacks the most exciting decade in heavyweight boxing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trailer

Sep 5th, 2018 42s

Join Steve Bunce from September 13th as he unpacks the most exciting decade in heavyweight boxing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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