Which venue hosted the first Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier fight in 1971?

The first Muhammad Ali–Joe Frazier fight was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 8, 1971.

Billed as the “Fight of the Century,” the bout matched undefeated heavyweight champion Joe Frazier against Muhammad Ali, who was returning to championship contention after a lengthy exile from boxing. Ali had been stripped of his titles after refusing induction into the U.S. Army, making the contest a major sporting and cultural event.

The sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden watched Frazier win by unanimous decision after 15 rounds. Frazier scored a dramatic knockdown with a left hook in the final round and retained the heavyweight championship. The official scores were 8–6–1, 9–6 and 11–4 for Frazier.

This was the first of three Ali–Frazier fights. Ali won the 1974 rematch at Madison Square Garden, while their 1975 third meeting, known as the “Thrilla in Manila,” took place in the Philippines.