Joe Frazier dropped Muhammad Ali in the 15th round of their memorable first fight, March 8, 1971. Frazier won via unanimous decision. (Allsport)

In the pre-casino era New York City was the epicenter of boxing and Madison Square Garden was the sport's Mecca. From the 1920s-70s, it was the goal of ever contender to headline a main event in the storied indoor arena or one of the Big Apple's baseball parks.

Every heavyweight champion of significance, with the exception of Mike Tyson, has fought for or defended the title in New York. In most cases the champion was on safe ground. No undisputed heavyweight champ has ever lost his title at Madison Square Garden. With the exception of Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson, who split a pair of title bouts at the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium, the title has never changed hands in more than a dozen bouts at the city's two major ballparks.

However, the Madison Square Garden Bowl, an outdoor arena located in Queens, was considered the House of Upsets. Max Schemling, Jack Sharkey, Primo Carnera and Max Baer all lost the title there in the mid-1930s.

In March 1999, the Garden was the scene for one of the most controversial heavyweight title fights in recent history. WBC champion Lennox Lewis dominated WBA/IBF champion Evander Holyfield over 12 rounds only to have the fight scored a draw by the ringside officials. Lewis eventually unified the title when he won a unanimous decision over Holyfield last November in Las Vegas.