Infamous drug lord wearing $100,000 coat to Muhammad Ali fight led to trouble with law enforcement

During the Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier fight, Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas was in the audience, which later made him a marked man.

Infamous drug lord wearing $100,000 coat to Muhammad Ali fight led to trouble with law enforcement

Frank Lucas at the Muhammad Ali fight (image credit- X)

The “Fight of the Century” was held on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It marked the beginning of a golden age for boxing and its fighters. Subsequently, it was the first time that the legendary Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met in the ring. Frazier won the first of the two of them by a unanimous decision after Ali was knocked down in the second round. Furthermore, adding to the excitement of the fight was the presence of the notorious drug lord, Frank Lucas. 

Back in the 1970s, the drug lord discreetly ran Harlem. However, at a Muhammad Ali fight, he was seen wearing a $100,000 chinchilla coat. This caught the attention of the police, especially since he was in a better seat than Diana Ross or Frank Sinatra. At the time, he called it a ‘massive mistake’ and stated that he became a ‘marked man’ after the fight.

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American Gangster was a movie based on Lucas’ life. The main character, Frank, is a drug lord who has power over the police and other gangs. In addition, the police are the only ones who are willing to take action against him. So when this picture resurfaced and went viral on social media, it caught the attention of fans.

Lucas was arrested and later convicted on federal and state drug charges. In addition, he served a significant prison sentence but cooperated with law enforcement authorities. Subsequently, Lucas provided information that led to the prosecution of other drug traffickers.

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 

Ali had been stripped of his titles and banned from boxing for refusing to be drafted into the military during the Vietnam War. In his absence, Frazier had won the vacant WBC and WBA heavyweight titles. The bout between Ali and Frazier marked Ali’s return to the ring after a three-and-a-half-year hiatus.

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier, Frank Lucas
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier  (image credit- CNN)

The fight lived up to its hype, showcasing an intense and grueling 15 rounds. Frazier scored a knockdown in the 15th round with a left hook that proved crucial in securing his victory. Furthermore, Frazier won the fight by unanimous decision, handing Ali his first professional defeat.

The rivalry between Ali and Frazier continued with two more epic bouts, “Super Fight II” in 1974 and “Thrilla in Manila” in 1975. Subsequently, Ali won the second and third fights, respectively. The trilogy of fights between Ali and Frazier remains one of the most iconic and memorable in the history of boxing.

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