Expert: Lian Shoemake - 11/5/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Lian.  I'm doing some research for a TV show that takes place in the 70s.  The question is, were title fights broadcast on TV?  If I wanted to watch the Ali/Norton fight, could I watch it at home?  At a bar?  I'm sorry if this isn't your area of expertise, but I thought I'd take a shot.  Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi John,

Thanks for the interesting question.
The 70's were, in a way, a golden age for televised boxing. Title fights were routinely shown on Saturday sports shows (Wide World of Sports, NBC Sportsworld, CBS Sports Spectacular). Major fights would find their way on to Friday evening slots (Leonard vs. Benitez, Hagler vs. Antuofermo, Holmes vs. Norton, Ali vs. Spinks 1 and 2, etc.)
Really really big fights would be shown on closed circuit television..Ali vs. Norton 3  in 1976 was such a fight, as was Ali vs. Frazier 1, 2 and 3, and Ali vs. Foreman. For the most part, boxing was very accessible to viewers on regular network television, with the exception of truly huge events like the ones mentioned above.

I hope this helps, John!
Thanks again for writing.

Regards,
Lian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for getting back to me.  And, yes, this helps a lot.  Just a quick follow up, if I wanted to see the Ali vs. Norton fight on closed circuit tv, was there a place I could go?  Someone told me that certain movie theaters or even strip clubs would play the fights?  Is that true or crazy?  Thanks again!

Answer
Hi again John,

The venues for closed-circuit broadcasts of fights varied greatly, depending on the geographic area in which the broadcasts were held. Here in San Diego, we would often get broadcasts at the Sports Arena, or even once at the football stadium. Other venues were movie theaters, civic centers, high school auditoriums..it all depended. I don't personally know of any strip clubs that were used, but I don't doubt it. The goal of the promoter would be to find a location that can hold enough ticket-buyers to turn a profit by showing the bout there.
I did a google search on "Ali vs. Norton 3 closed circuit" and learned some of the locations that were used. You might want to try something like that for greater specifics.

Thanks again for writing, John!

Regards,
Lian