Ali and Frazier daughters win final fights before showdown

The middleweights Ali and Frazier-Lyde were listed on the same fight card for the first time as they fought in front of 1,700 fans in Verona, New York, in an event billed as "March to Destiny". The seven-bout event, which was broadcasted around the world in English, Portuguese and Spanish, was a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the famous fathers' first fight on March 8, 1971.

The 23-year-old Ali needed five rounds to stop Christine Robinson and improve her record to 9-0 with eight knockouts. With her husband and manager ex-light heavyweight Johnny McClain ringside, Ali ended the fight with a barrage of rights and a left uppercut at 1:50 of the fifth round Frazier-Lyde - a 39-year-old lawyer, wife and mother of three - made short work of Genevia Buckhalter, knocking her out at 1:05 of the first round and improve her mark to 7-0 with seven knockouts.

The encounter was not without brash talk from Ali and Frazier- Lyde. "I want someone to go home with a tattoo on their face so they know they were whooped by Laila Ali," Ali said towards Frazier-Lyde in the post-fight press conference. Added Frazier-Lyde: "What (Ali) means is she's going to run. Laila Ali is going to run just like Muhammad Ali ran from Joe Frazier." Laila Ali took exception to the comment. "This is about me and you," Ali screamed. "Every time you say something like that, it's going to add to your whooping."

(la/news.ch)