thrilla in manila
Editor’s note: Saturday marks the 30th anniversary of “The Thrilla In Manila,” the final installment in the legendary Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier trilogy. [1]
The Thrilla in Manila is the third and final famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the ‘Heavy Weight Boxing Championship of the World ‘, fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975. [2]
Subscribers will be the first to hear about a special Thrilla in Manila edition that will be released this week. [3]
Joe Frazier said that of Muhammad Ali, but so fierce and unsparing was their confrontation that the phrase could have applied to them both. [4]
Oct. 1, 1975 - “Of all the men I fought, Sonny Liston was the scariest, George Foreman was the most powerful, Floyd Patterson was the most skilled as a boxer,” Ali once said. [5]
Yet even if Ali and Frazier could have foreseen the years of torment they had coming, neither would have yielded that day. [1]
When the bell rang for the 15th round, Frazier, with his eyes almost completely shut, remained in his corner as his trainer, Eddie Futch, threw in the towel. [5]
Unlike the Sly Stallone written film classic inspired in part by the fight in Manila (Stallone had gotten the inspiration to write the script after watching Ali-Wepner via closed circuit theater), Frazier’s trainer determined he should stop the bout after the fourteenth round, so the decision went to Ali as a technical knockout (TKO). [2]
He brought out the best in me, and the best fight we fought was in Manila.” [5]
Right up until the bell rang for Round One, Ali was dead certain that Frazier was through, was convinced that he was no more than a shell, that too many punches to the head had left Frazier only one more solid shot removed from a tin cup and some pencils. [4]
Some years later after repeated weekly prodding from Ali, Frazier petitioned President Nixon to restore Ali’s right to box thereby bringing about the so called Fight of the Century between two undisputed Heavy Weight Champions in 1971. [2]
In honor of this fight and in anticipation of Antonio Tarver-Roy Jones III on Saturday, ESPN.com explores boxing’s — and other sports’ — great trilogies this week. [1]
It’s been an exciting and inspiring few days, although, as Jane pointed out last night, “Drawing is hard work!” [3]
The bout turned out to be three fights in one: The first had Ali, the champion, outboxing and outscoring Frazier, nailing him with clean, sharp shots. [5]
Venerable trainer Eddie Futch would not let Frazier leave the corner for the 15th round, needing only the gentle pressure of his elderly hand to keep the mighty fighter from standing. [1]
Sources:
[1] Thrilla: An exhausting, excruciating epic - Boxing - ESPN
[2] Thrilla in Manila - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[3] Thrilla in Manila
[4] CNN/SI - Century’s Best - SI Flashback: Thrilla in Manila - Wednesday …
[5] ESPN Classic - ‘Thrilla in Manila‘ was epic bout