Joe frazier signed photo he bacame world heavyweight boxing champion from february 16 1970 when he knocked out jimmy ellis in five rounds in new york city until january 22 1973 in 1970 when muhammad ali was reinstated to the sport and a bout between the undefeated former champion and frazier was inevitable on march 8 1971 the two heavyweights met in madison square garden in the fight billed as the fight of the century the two fought at a furious pace for 15 rounds and frazier scor