Muhammad Ali victory in federal court forced the New York State Boxing Commission to reinstate Ali's license. He fought Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden in December, an uninspired performance that ended in a dramatic technical knockout of Bonavena in the 15th round. The win left Ali as a top contender against heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Ali and Frazier's first fight, held at the Garden on March 8, 1971, was nicknamed the "Fight of the Century", due to the tremendous excitement surrounding a bout between two undefeated fighters, each with a legitimate claim as heavyweight champions. Veteran boxing writer John Condon called
Madison Square Garden Bowl Carnera also captured the heavyweight crown in the 1930s at the Madison Square Garden Bowl. It was known as the "Jinx Bowl" because no titleholder ever successfully defended his title there. The bowl was torn down during World War II to make way for a US Army Mail Depot. It, in turn, was torn down and the area is now home to a Major World used car dealership and strip mall. Madison Square Garden Bowl Madison Square Garden Bowl was the name of an outdoor arena in the New York City borough of Queens. Built in 1932, the arena hosted