Frazier-ALi IV: Famous Daughters to
Fight in June
Turning Stone Will Host Latest Round in Classic
Rivalry ONEIDA NATION HOMELANDS
- They’ve been sparring verbally for a year while honing their boxing
skills against other opponents. Now, the long-anticipated match-up between
the daughters of boxing greats Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali is officially
set for June.
Jacqui Frazier and Laila
Ali, who boxed different opponents tonight at the Oneida Indian Nation’s
Turning Stone Casino Resort, will face each other in Turning Stone’s ring
on June8. The event will
coincide with the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s Induction Weekend.
“The
Oneida Nation and Turning Stone are honored and delighted to provide the
venue for this historic event,” Nation Representative and CEO Ray
Halbritter said. “Jacqui Frazier and Laila Ali are not only keeping their
fathers’ legacies alive, they are building their own legacies in the
growing field of professional women’s boxing. We are proud to be an
integral part of their stories.”
Ever since
Frazier and Ali became professional pugilists themselves, fans and observers
of the sport have been speculating on a next generation match-up. Jacqui
Frazier has called out Laila Ali several times over the past year, but Ali
ignored the baiting until just a few weeks ago, when the two appeared at a
news conference at Turning Stone to discuss their appearances on the
casino’s March 2 boxing card. At that news conference, Jacqui Frazier
ratcheted the verbal sparring up a notch, shoving her fist into a
Valentine’s cake to demonstrate how she plans to handle Laila Ali in the
ring.
Neither
Frazier nor Ali is ranked with the International Female Boxing Association,
but both have defeated ranked opponents. Frazier, dubbed “Sister Smoke”
by Muhammad Ali, disposed of three of her opponents in the first round,
including a KO of IFBA’s No.3 light heavyweight Nicolyn Armstrong. Ali,
known in the ring as “Lady B Stingin’,” scored a second-round KO
against Armstrong, as well as a third- round TKO of No.5 super middleweight
Karen Bill and a unanimous decision against No.7 super middleweight Kendra
Lenhart.
In her
professional debut at Turning Stone in October 1999, Ali KO’d April Fowler
in 31 seconds. Frazier took just 59 seconds to KO Wanda Gamble in an April
2000 fight at the casino.
Frazier,
39, is a practicing attorney and mother of three. Ali, 23, owned a nail
salon before taking up professional boxing.
Both
fighters promise a good match in June.
“I’m
going to eat that body up,” Frazier said of Ali. “She’s not going to
be able to walk the same.”
“I’m
actually going to try to drag it out to the end so I can whup her, put a
beating on her,” Ali countered.
When their
fathers net at Madison Square Garden in 1971, the bout was billed simply as
“The Fight.” It was the first installment for a classic trilogy:
-
March 8, 1971- Frazier keeps the heavyweight title with a
15-round decision over Ali.
-
Jan.28, 1974- Ali wins the rematch against Frazier, who had
lost the crown to George Foreman in 1973, with a 12-round decision. Later
that year, Ali knocks out Foreman in Zaire, earning the title for the second
time.
-
Oct. 1, 1975- Ali keeps his title in the grueling “Thrilla
in Manilla,” scoring a 14th- round TKO over Frazier.
One
of the top five tourist attractions in New York, Turning Stone Casino Resort
is located just off New York State Thruway Exit 33 in Verona (about 30 miles
east of Syracuse). Tickets are available for the Frazier-Ali IV
through Ticketmaster.
For additional ticket information on this fight or other upcoming fights, contact
the Turning Stone Casino Showroom Box Office at (877) 833-SHOW or (315) 361-SHOW. |
