Dec. 7,1970 when “The Greatest” fought “Ringo” at Madison Square Garden

Barely a month after stopping top-ranking contender Jerry Quarry on a cut, Muhammad Ali was back in the ring.

His opponent would be burly Oscar Bonavena.

Many questioned Ali’s decision. The Quarry fight had only gone three rounds. Ali was sharp, despite his three-and-a-half-year layoff, but Bonavena was another animal entirely. The guy was a bruiser and liked to fight dirty.

Yes, he was slow, but powerful.

Just ask Joe Frazier, who was brought to the brink of defeat four years before.

Bonavena was born in 1942 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the son of Italian immigrants. Bonavena began boxing at 15, winning 46 of 47 amateur fights, his only loss occurring at the Pan-American Games for biting his opponent’s chest.

Nicknamed “Ringo” for his Beatle-like haircut, he turned professional in 1964. With confidence bordering on arrogance, very much like the man he would fight in 1970, Bonavena caught on with wily, experienced trainer Charlie Goldman, renowned for moulding a raw Rocky Marciano into a world heavyweight champion

Bonavena told Goldman he could beat any heavyweight in the world, including reigning champion Sonny Liston.

Goldman liked the young man’s pluck and confidence. He didn’t like his obstinacy.

Bonavena won 21 of his first 24 fights, ranking him ninth in the heavyweight division.

A win over George Chuvalo earned him a fight with undefeated prospect Frazier in 1966 at Madison Square Garden.

Bonavena came within a whisker of being the first fighter to defeat the future heavyweight champion. In round two, Frazier found himself on the canvas, courtesy of a blistering Bonavena right hand.

It was only the second time in his career that Frazier had felt the canvas.

Frazier was up at the count of five, but seconds later, he was down again.

One more trip to the floor under New York State rules, and the fight would be over. Frazier tried to hold Bonavena.

The brutish heavyweight wobbled him with another shot. Holding wasn’t working, but fighting back was. A minute remained in the round. Bonavena was loading up with every shot. He went to the body and head. Frazier remained upright, bobbing and weaving and throwing hooks until the round ended.

Bonavena dropped a majority decision but was soon on a winning streak. He lost decisions to Frazier in a rematch and to Jimmy Ellis. He defeated Karl Mildenberger, Zora Folley, and Leotis Martin.

Bonavena’s record stood at 46 wins in 52 fights, with 37 knockouts, when he fought former heavyweight champion Ali at Madison Square Garden on December 7th, 1970.

Bonavena’s pre-fight chatter did something unique. It got under Ali’s skin.

He mocked Ali, calling him “Clay” and a “chicken” for refusing to be drafted.

Ali told him, “Keep talking.”

“You’ll be mine in nine.”

Not quite.

Ali outboxed Bonavena in the early going, but lacked the sharpness he displayed against Quarry.

Bonavena stalked, throwing overhand rights from his hip. Ali won rounds but took punishment. He danced in round five, but hardly resembled his former self. The results of his layoff were showing. His cracking reflexes were slower. Bonavena kept coming, throwing off-balance blows that should have never connected.

But they did.

Ali had predicted he’d stop Bonavena in round nine. He attacked Bonavena, connecting with hard rights while Bonavena dug to the body.

The crowd roared as the action had finally picked up. Several punches appeared to hurt Bonavena, but there was no quit in the strongman from Argentina.

Bonavena fought back, landing a heavy left that sent Ali reeling into the ropes. He wobbled and held on to Bonavena like a beau with his date. Ali said after the fight that his whole body went numb, but Ali was tough as well.

The next few rounds were slow, with Bonavena out landing Ali

The fight dragged on to the fifteenth and final round. Both fighters were exhausted. Ali was well ahead on the scorecards, though the AP had it much closer.

Bonavena came out throwing roundhouse punches in round 15. He missed. Ali, ragged throughout the fight, moved to his left as cornerman Bundini Brown yelled, “Close the show!” Ali landed a right that lacked power. Near the 1:30 mark, Ali connected with a short left hand to Bonavena’s chin. Seconds later, another left hook landed, toppling Bonavena, who pulled himself up at the count of seven.

Ali dropped him again with a combination. Once again, Bonavena got up, but not for long. Ali floored him for the third and final time.

Though Ali was far ahead on the judges’ scorecards, he said after the match, “It was the toughest fight I ever had.”