Celebrities in the picture at Ali-Frazier I

Fifty years ago this week, on March 8, 1971, Muhammad Ali met Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden in what is often called “The Fight of the Century.”

It has long been considered one of the greatest heavyweight fights in boxing history, and one of the biggest sports events ever in New York City.

That night, Smokin’ Joe Frazier would win a unanimous decision over Ali in the first of three titanic confrontations. Ali won the last two, including a return bout at MSG and the Thrilla’ in Manila.

Ali-Frazier I will forever be remembered as perhaps the greatest assemblage of celebrities at a sporting event. We’re talking big-time celebrities.

Frank Sinatra was there, taking photographs for LIFE magazine from his ringside seat. Burt Lancaster was an analyst for the closed-circuit broadcast. Sinatra and Lancaster sat next to one another at the Garden, bonded as they had been in “From Here To Eternity.”

Norman Mailer wrote about the bout for LUFE, and hundreds of big-name sports journalists covered the fight.

Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman were at ringside.

Others in the house included Bill Cosby, Diana Ross, Diane Keaton, Woody Allen and Sammy Davis Jr.

Bob Dylan was there. Hugh Hefner and Barbi Benton came together.

U.S. Senators Ted Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey made the scene.

Leroy Nieman painted Ali and Frazier as they fought.

Members of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, who called MSG home, were in attendance that night at the Garden.

Gene Kelly was there, along with Eunice Shriver. Boxing historian Bert Sugar and future heavyweight champion George Foreman, who would later fight both Ali and Frazier for the title, were in MSG that starry night..

The worldwide broadcast was called by legendary announcer Don Dunphy, joined by Lancaster and former champion and boxing legend Archie Moore. The bout was not televised on the networks, but  was broadcast by closed circuit, to 50 countries in 12 languages to an audience estimated at 300 million viewers.

Paul Newman and Glen Ford viewed the fight at a closed circuit screening in Beverly Hills. Elvis and Priscilla Presley did the same at Ellis Auditorium in Memphis.

Bing Crosby couldn’t get into the Garden (seriously) and watched the fight on closed-circuit at Radio City Music Hall.

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