Ep 5: 1971 - The Deal

Boxing gets the full Hollywood Treatment as Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier finally agree a deal to meet in the ring. The numbers are astronomical and break new boundaries in sports promotion, as the world readies itself for 'The Fight of the Century'.

Under the watchful eye of Angelo Dundee, Ali heads to Miami for his training in order to prepare for what he hopes will be the fight that makes him heavyweight champion of the world once again. Frazier is also back in the gym, but he prefers the sub-zero temperatures of the Catskill Mountains, where alongside Yank Durham and Eddie Futch, he will plot how to defeat 'The Greatest'.

Away from the training, sparring and hours on the road, Ali continues his verbal assaults on Joe, but this time does he take things too far?

Elsewhere, the scramble for 'The Fight Of The Century' tickets begins as everyone from astronauts to sports stars, Hollywood actors to gangsters clamour for the hottest ticket in town. With so much riding on the fight there is genuine concern amongst the authorities about any nefarious characters influencing the outcome, so unprecedented precautions are implemented to keep the identity of the referee a secret until the last minute.

It's early 1971 and Nas is your guide as we prepare ourselves for 'The Fight of the Century - Ali v Frazier'.

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Credits:

Presenter - Nas Producer - Mark Sharman Writer - Ayad Andrews Drama Producer - Owen Lewis Executive Producer - Phil Critchlow Executive Producer - Nas Drama Recording - Jerry O’Riordan Sound Design - Micky Curling Original Music - Owen Parker Production Assistant - Gabby Morris and Sera Baker Drama Assistant - Maia Henderson

ACTORS

Trevor Dion Nicholas Aaron Pierre David Menkin Courtney Winston Tomini Babs Evlyne Oyedokun Jennifer Armour Earl R Perkins Clinton Liberty Philip Desmeules Jose Palma Finbar Lynch

A TBI Media Production for BBC Sounds.