Pennsylvania HR 440: A Resolution designating March 8, 2026, as "Fight of the Century Day" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3014
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 440
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY BELLMON, BARTON, SANCHEZ, DOUGHERTY, STAMBAUGH,
HARKINS, KENYATTA, HILL-EVANS, MAYES, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND
HOHENSTEIN, MARCH 17, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, MARCH 18, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Designating March 8, 2026, as "Fight of the Century Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, In what has been deemed the "Fight of the Century,"
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, two undefeated fighters and former
Olympic gold medalists, faced off in a legendary 15-round boxing
match at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971; and
WHEREAS, Ali and Frazier were both offered $1.5 million and a
percentage of the total gate for the fight but chose to take the
guaranteed $2.5 million, record earnings for a single prizefight
at the time; and
WHEREAS, Had the fighters taken the $1.5 million and the
percentage, they each would have grossed more than $6 million
from the fight, which itself grossed more than $30 million in
total; and
WHEREAS, Ticket sales for the fight grossed $45 million at
closed-circuit venues in the United States alone, and it was
viewed by more than 300 million people worldwide, with an
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estimated half the population of the United Kingdom watching the
replay on BBC after the results were already widely known; and
WHEREAS, Frazier won the fight by unanimous decision, a
victory secured by a massive left hook to Ali's jaw, making the
"Fight of the Century" Ali's first professional loss; and
WHEREAS, The two men fought again in a 14-round match in
Manila on October 1, 1975, known as the "Thrilla in Manila,"
which saw Ali defeat Frazier; and
WHEREAS, In 1972, Muhammad Ali built a training camp named
"Fighter's Heaven" in Deer Lake, where he prepared for numerous
fights; and
WHEREAS, Joe Frazier, nicknamed "Smokin' Joe," moved to
Philadelphia as a teenager and later in his retirement operated
a gym on North Broad Street in Philadelphia where he shared his
experience with and helped train young people; and
WHEREAS, Muhammad Ali suffered through several health
ailments in the final years of his life, including Parkinson's
disease, spinal stenosis and pneumonia, before passing away in
2016, remembered now for his legacy as a boxer, philanthropist
and social activist; and
WHEREAS, Joe Frazier passed away from a battle against liver
cancer in 2011, leaving behind a significant legacy, including
impacting the lives of youths throughout Philadelphia and
helping to shape a generation of boxers; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
8, 2026, as "Fight of the Century Day" in Pennsylvania.
20260HR0440PN3014 - 2 -
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