Muhammad Ali was involved in several matches.
The Fight of the Century ( also known as The Fight ) is the title boxing writers and historians have given to the boxing match between WBC/WBA heavyweight champion Joe Frazier ( 26 -- 0 , 23 KOs ) and Ring magazine/lineal heavyweight champion In combat sports where champions are decided by a challenge , the lineal championship of a weight class is a world championship title held initially by an undisputed champion and subsequently by a fighter who defeats the reigning champion in a match at that weight class . Muhammad Ali . He remains the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion , having won the title in 1964 , 1974 , and 1978 .