Wednesday Night ~ November 17, 1971

Astrodome ~ Houston, Texas

Muhammad Ali
Age........... 29 years, 10 months
Weight ..... 227 lbs.
Height....... 6' 3"
Reach....... 78"
Record...... 32-1-0 {26 KO's}
WBA Rank.. #1

Muhammad was listed as a {7-1} Betting Favorite, and was to receive a 'minimum' fight purse of $300,000 against 40% of the Gate Receipts.

ABC-TV purchased the rights to film the bout, which was to be telecast at a later date.

Muhammad was 'blasting away' that Joe Frazier ran to Europe to avoid fighting him.

"Joe Frazier has no one to fight. I knocked off Jimmy Ellis, and George Foreman is still an amateur
who is 1-year away. Floyd Patterson is too old, and Joe doesn't want to fight Oscar Bonavena
again."