On January 22, 1973 Jamaica for the first time hosted a world title boxing bout. A heavyweight title fight between champion Joe "Smoking Joe" Frazier and Challenger George Foreman dubbed "The Sunshine Showdown." This took place at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
Both fighters were Olympic gold medal winners. Frazier in Tokyo, Japan(1964) and Foreman in Mexico City, Mexico(1972)
Both fighters came into this bout previously undefeated. Frazier had won 29 and Foreman had won 35.
They both celebrated birthdays just before the event. Frazier (born January 12, 1944) and Foreman (born January 10, 1949).
Foreman came into the fight a 3-1 underdog.
Foreman had a height and weight advantage over Frazier. 6 feet 3 inches, 235 pounds vs. 5 feet 11 inches, 214 pounds.
The fight was watched by 36,000 people in the stadium and 100 million on closed circuit televisions around the world.
Frazier had been floored 6 times before referee Arthur Mercante stopped the fight at 1 minute 35 seconds of the 2nd round.
Both fighters met again on June 15, 1976 in Uniondale, New York. The fight was stopped in the 5th round, Foreman again being the victor. This prompted Frazier's retirement from boxing.
