Muhammad Ali's historic 1972 boxing match at Croke Park

Muhammad Ali headlined a historic boxing match at Croke Park on July 19, 1972, defeating Al ‘Blue’ Lewis in 11 rounds. The event was facilitated by promoter Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue, a former circus strongman and pub landlord who leveraged connections to bring the heavyweight champion to Ireland.

The 1972 bout was notable for its logistical challenges, including the need to hastily retrieve boxing gloves from London on the day of the fight. While the event was a significant moment in Irish sporting history, its attendance was described as low compared to modern GAA fixtures. The match remains the last major boxing event held at the venue, following much earlier bouts involving fighters like Bartley Madden in 1926.