THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 11 - ALI GETS BACK HIS BOXING LICENSE, WINS OVER QUARRY, BONAVENA AND ELLIS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 05 Aug 2025
In March 1966, Ali rejected the draft in the armed forces. He was consequently denied issuance of a boxing license in every state and his passport was nullified. He was not able to fight from March 1967 to October 1970 until his conviction was reversed in 1971.
On August 11, 1970, with his case still in appeal, Ali was granted a boxing license by the City of Atlanta Athletic Commission. Influential people Leroy Johnson, Jesse Hill Jr. and Harry Pett had used political backing to establish the House of Sports who organized the fight, employing the political influence of Georgia's black politics in Ali's comeback fight. Ali's first return bout was against Jerry Quarry on October 26, and he won a third round stoppage due to Quarry's nasty cut.
A victory in federal court compelled the New York State Boxing Commission to reinstate Ali's boxing license. He fought Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden on December 7, 1970 which culminated in a technical knockout of Bonavena in the 15th round. The win made Ali the top contender against heavyweight champion Joe Frazier.
Ali and Frazier's first fight was held at the Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, while Ali's Supreme Court appeal was still pending. It was nicknamed the "Fight of the Century" due to the great excitement generated by a bout of two undefeated fighters, each with a claim to be world heavyweight champion. Veteran U.S. boxing writer John Condon called it "the greatest event I've ever worked on in my life." The bout was broadcast in 36 countries and promoters granted 760 press passes. Ali lost by unanimous decision and it was his first professional defeat.
In 1971, basketball star Wilt Chamberlain challenged Ali to a fight scheduled for July 26. The seven-foot-one-inch-tall Chamberlain had an intimidating physical advantage over Ali, as he weighed 60 pounds more and was able to reach 14 inches further. But Ali was able to influence Chamberlain who backed out from the bout by sneering at him with calls of "Timber!" and "The tree will fall" during a shared interview. These statements of confidence unsettled his taller opponent, whom Los Angeles Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke had offered a record-setting contract, with a condition that Chamberlain would agree to abandon what Cooke called the "boxing foolishness", and Chamberlain withdrew from the fight.
On June 28, 1971, the Supreme Court reversed Ali's draft evasion conviction. To replace Ali's opponent, promoter Bob Arum signed Ali's former sparring partner, Jimmy Ellis, who was a childhood friend from Louisville, Kentucky, to face him. Ali won the bout via a technical knockout in the 12th round.
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