joe-frazier-knocks-out-ellis — Joe Frazier (R) looks on as he knocks out Jimmy Ellis at the Madison Square Garden, on February 16,1970 in New York, New York. Joe Frazier won the vacant WBC heavyweight title, WBA World heavyweight title and the NYSAC World heavyweight title by a TKO 5.

By Kelley D. Evans @kelleysthrngrl

February 16, 2017

1957 – Happy birthday, LeVar Burton
Actor LeVar Burton is known for his role as Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning television series Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley. He also had a recurring role in the Star Trek: Next Generation series and movies and was host for more than 20 years of Reading Rainbow.

1970 – Joe Frazier knocks out Jimmy Ellis
Joe Frazier, a 6-1 favorite, fought Jimmy Ellis for the heavyweight title in front of more than 18,000 people at Madison Square Garden. Ellis was knocked down at the end of the fourth round and trainer Angelo Dundee refused to let him go back out, making Frazier the undisputed heavyweight champion.

1992 – Magic Johnson’s jersey is retired
A tearful Magic Johnson thanked Larry Bird and the fans at the Great Western Forum as his No. 32 jersey was retired by the Los Angeles Lakers.

2016 – Channing Dungey becomes first African-American president at ABC Entertainment Group
Channing Dungey becomes the first black president to run the entertainment division of a major broadcast TV network. She joined ABC Studios in 2004, was previously executive vice president of drama development, movies and miniseries and was integral in the development of shows such as Scandal, Criminal Minds, How to Get Away with Murder, Quantico, Army Wives and Once Upon A Time.

Kelley Evans is a digital producer at Andscape. She is a food passionista, helicopter mom and an unapologetic Southerner who spends every night with the cast of The Young and the Restless by way of her couch.

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On this day in black history: Joe Frazier wins heavyweight title, Magic Johnson’s jersey is retired, ABC hires first black female president

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