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Muhammad Ali, Lyle Alzado battle in boxing exhibition at Mile High Stadium | July 14, 1979 | Colorado’s Top 150 Sports Moments

By January 10, 2026 | updated 4 weeks ago

Muhammad Ali, right, score a big right against Lyle Alzado's chin during the first round of the exhibition boxing match between the former heavyweight champ and Denver Broncos defensive end in Denver, Colo., July 14, 1979. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.

Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati and a committee of 10 compiled and will release the list every week until the No. 1 moment on July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.

July 14, 1979

It was only an exhibition, as former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali fought an eight-round match against Denver Broncos defensive lineman Lyle Alzado. Around 20,000 fans attended the event at Mile High Stadium, which wasn’t officially scored but went all eight rounds; most, if not all, thought Ali won easily. About 600 miles to the east that same night, Jamie Easterly of the Denver Bears pitched a perfect game in the Bears’ 10-0 win over the Iowa Oaks in Des Moines. That was the last of seven no-hitters in Denver’s minor league history that spanned over 100 years. 

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Top 150 Sports Moments
Chris Schmaedeke

Reporter

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