March to destiny -- Ali, Frazier dominate

March to destiny -- Ali, Frazier dominate
Associated Press

Verona (New York), March 3: Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, together for the first time on the same fight card, scored separate knockouts to remain undefeated.

Both daughters of former world heavyweight champions, they used last night’s event as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of their famous fathers’ first fight, which was held on March 8, 1971.

Yesterday’s seven-bout event, billed as a ‘march to destiny,’ was broadcast around the world in English, Portuguese and Spanish. A crowd of over 1,700 watched the middleweight rivals use their fights as a buildup to a much anticipated head-to-head encounter in June.

Ali (9-0, 8 kos), with her husband and manager ex-light heavyweight Johnny McClain ringside, needed five rounds to stop Christine Robinson (2-5, 1 ko). At 1:50 of the fifth round, Ali ended the fight with a barrage of rights and a left uppercut.

Robinson, who once extended boxer Christie Martin five rounds, could not avoid Ali’s right, but was able to absorb it through the first two rounds.

In the third, Robinson landed a few rights of her own. Ali turned more aggressive and started leading with a left jab, with the right cocked, looking for an opening.In the fourth, Robinson matched Ali punch for punch.

But with the crowd chanting ‘‘Ali, Ali,’’ the champion’s daughter backed Robinson into a corner in the fifth. She threw a dozen rights, some over, some under. A left upper cut lifted Robinson off the canvas and put her down for the count.

In a short fight, Frazier-Lyde (7-0, 7 kos) flailed her way to knockout at 1:05 of the first round. She knocked down Genevia Buckhalter (2-8, 2 kos) twice, the first time with two solid lefts to the chin.

The second time, Buckhalter caught another haymaker to the head. Frazier-Lyde had to push the dazed opponent off her as she fell to the canvas.

Frazier-Lyde, a lawyer, wife and mother of three, with her husband and manager Peter Lyde ringside, had entered the square to her own theme song, ‘‘Sister smoke she ain’t no joke.’’ She was barely touched in just a minute of boxing.