On 19 July 1972, the most famous sportsman on the planet stepped into a boxing ring in the middle of Croke Park. Muhammad Ali’s fight against Al ‘Blue’ Lewis has become one of the most remarkable nights in the history of the stadium — a world heavyweight superstar fighting at the headquarters of the GAA in a bout that almost seems impossible in hindsight.
But how did Muhammad Ali end up fighting in Croke Park? Who brought him to Dublin? What was Ireland like during Ali’s visit, and what actually happened on the night itself? We’re joined by Dave Hannigan, author of The Big Fight: When Ali Conquered Ireland, to tell the extraordinary story of the people who made the fight happen, Ali’s time in Ireland and the night Croke Park swapped Gaelic Games for big time boxing.
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