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Ali v Frazier: The night Sinatra became a ‘press photographer’

During the ‘Fight of the Century’ between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1971, singer Frank Sinatra became an accredited press photographer in order to gain the best view inside New York’s Madison Square Garden.

It’s one memory shared by boxing journalist Colin Hart following the death of Ali at the age of 74.

Hart was present at the fight, which Frazier eventually won in a 15-round contest.

“Frank Sinatra couldn’t stand sitting in a ringside seat because he wasn’t going to be close enough so he got himself assigned a press photographer with Life magazine,” he remembers.

“There was little Frankie up on the ringside snapping away,” he added.

This clip is from 5 live Sport, Saturday 4 June 2016.

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