On September 15, 1978, boxer Muhammad Ali defeated Leon
Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to win
the world heavyweight boxing title for the third time in his
career, the first fighter ever to do so. Following his victory,
Ali retired from boxing, only to make a brief comeback two
years later. Ali, who once claimed he could “float like a
butterfly, sting like a bee,” left the sport permanently in
1981.

Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.)
(January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016)

Bobby Fischer (right) defeated Russian Boris Spassky.

On September 1, 1972, in what’s billed as the “Match of the
Century,” American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer
defeated Russian Boris Spassky during the World Chess
Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland.

In the world’s most publicized title match ever played, Fischer,
a 29-year-old Brooklynite, became the first American to win
the competition since its inception in 1866. The victory also
marked the first time a non-Russian had won the event in
24 years.

An eight-year-old Polish chess prodigy Samuel Reshevsky defeating several masters at the same time in France, 1920. 

Reshevsky was an eight-time winner of the US Chess Championship, tying him with Bobby Fischer for the all-time record.

He was an accountant by profession and also a chess writer.

Samuel Herman Reshevsky (1911- 1992)

On May 16, 1980, Los Angeles Lakers point guard Earvin
“Magic” Johnson stepped in for injured center Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar and scored 42 points, leading the Lakers
to a four games-to-two series win over the Philadelphia
76ers for their first championship since 1972.

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WJAR) — A World War II veteran
was honored Saturday at a chess tournament in East
Greenwich, Rhode Island.

Lou Giarrusso (above) celebrated his 100th birthday at the
Once-in-a-Lifetime Inaugural Championship Cup Event at the
New England Institute of Technology.

Giarrusso started playing in 1963, and he is a Guinness
World Record holder for the oldest chess player to
compete.

Giarrusso was presented with a chessboard birthday 
ake (below), plaques and certificates, and a trophy
for his achievements in chess.