October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. 

Open of the show guests announced by Ed McMahon. 
Johnny Carson complete opening  monologue is heard which includes the  statement that Muhammad Ali who was supposed to be on last night's show is on tonight. Surprise guest is Bill Cosby who is heard later in the program commenting about viewing Ali's return to the ring with a TKO in 3 rounds over Jerry Quarry after three and half years in "forced" retirement.  Cosby talks about the different feeling he had seeing the fight live as opposed to viewing it on TV. 

Ed and Johnny at the desk reading sage advice from a book published in 1904 and countering with updates circa 1970. 

Guest Muhammad Ali discusses his TKO over Jerry Quarry three nights ago. At 28 years of age he mentions that he has boxed for 16 years, has fought in 10 title defenses, and feels blessed that he has been able to be as successful as he has been. He mentions to Johnny that he had only six weeks to prepare for the Jerry Quarry fight, and dropped 28 pounds in that time. They talk about the cut that Ali inflicted upon Quarry, resulting in the fight being stopped.  Carson  screens a clip from the Jim Jacobs documentary, "Legendary Champions," which highlights Muhammad's career. Ali comments. Johnny states that Ali is so much more reserved at this time from the boisterous Ali of the past when he made predictions and spouted poetry. Ali comments. 
He remembers when he was 12 years old and after his bike was stolen he was introduced to boxing by patrolman Joe Martin. 
Muhammad Ali states that he would like to fight Joe Frazier after he fights Oscar Bonavena.

Includes commercials. 

NOTE: A lost Tonight Show. 
 

Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.

Host: Johnny Carson. Guests: Muhammad Ali, Bill Cosby,