On October 1, 1975, one of the greatest rivalries in sports history came to a head. It was on this day in Manila, Phillippines that boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier took to the ring in a third, climaxing event in what many call the greatest fight of all-time. The "Thrilla in Manila" was on as Ali defended his WBA/WBC Heavyweight Titles.
If there was ever two contrasts in styles among two opponents, this was it. Ali was the arrogant fighter who used quickness and speed. Frazier was a power puncher that was serious about his craft. Ali also insisted that Frazier was washed up before this fight after he lost to George Foreman as well as Ali in their second fight. This was a recipe that sparked what many say is the most heated rivalry in the history of sports.
In the opening round of the fight, Ali wanted to take advantage of Frazier, who was known for starting out slow in fights. Ali used his quickness and nailed Frazier with a flurry of punches. Even though Frazier was hurt by this, he kept coming at Ali to where it frustrated him.
By the middle rounds, Ali had appeared to be tired. Frazier was able to take advantage, and used power punches to the body of Ali. In the sixth round, Frazier stunned Ali with a left hook which nearly put him on the mat. When the seventh round came, it was reported that Ali whispered in Frazier's ear, "They said you were washed up." Frazier said, "They lied".
The heat had begun to take it's toll on the fighters, but it appeared that Frazier would be able to win by the 10th round. In the 11th round, Ali made a startling comeback as he badly damaged the face of Frazier with a flurry of punches.
Ali continued the momentum as Frazier had no answer for the right-hand punches to the face. At one point in the 13th round, Ali knocked Frazier's mouthpiece into the front row of fans. Ali continued the assault, and Frazier threw very few punches as Ali continued on.
At the end of the 13th round, Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch wanted to stop the fight after the damage he took. Frazier refused to give up, and he came out for the 14th round.
Ali had closed the right eye of Frazier, and he continued to pound away at him. Frazier, who was defenseless, took a major beating in which he almost went down to the canvas as the bell rang to end the round. Ali's energy was spent, but Futch finally decided to stop the fight after the 14th round. Ali won the fight, and immediately fainted in his corner. Ali later said that this was as close as he came to dying after the sweltering heat got to him.
It was later revealed that Frazier had a cataract in his left eye which meant by the time Ali closed his right eye with punches, he was virtually fighting blind.
"Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I'm gonna tell ya, that's one helluva man, and God bless him," said Ali after the fight.
The fight was a huge financial success with many countries being able to see it with an HBO antenna. Cairo, Egypt was considered a location for the fight according to an issue of Ring Magazine.
Ali is widely considered by many to not only be the best boxer ever, but athlete, too. He lost the title to Leon Spinks in 1978, but regained it in the rematch which later led him to retirement. He came back for a rematch against Larry Holmes in a loss in 1980, and retired for good after a loss to Trevor Berbick in 1981. Ali finished his career 56-5-0 with 37 wins coming by knockout.
Frazier went on to face Foreman, and lost which prompted his retirement. He later appeared in the 1976 box office hit Rocky which saw the title match take place in his town of Philadelphia. He finished with a record of 32-4-1 with 27 wins by knockout. He lost to Ali and Foreman twice which were the only losses of his career.
This fight was ranked No. 5 by ESPN's Sports Century panel of experts in the Greatest Games/Moments in the 20th Century.
Photo courtesy of vintage-poster-movie.com
Thanks for viewing, and I hope you enjoyed today's FSD History Flashback!
10/01/2008 10:52:00 AM
David Funk
13 comments:
Nice one. I was but a few days old when the Thrilla in Manilla went down. Boxing has truly lost its luster.
Lester- I wasn't born until November 1974 myself, so we're the same age.
Boxing has seen too much negative publicity that it's going to take alot for it come back strong. Combine that with the competition of MMA and UFC, and it's really an uphill battle for the sport.
OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!!! i love i mean LOVE smokin joe.......WOW david awesome write up!!! his kids went to my high school (way before me) & his wife still lives in the burbs of philly (where i grew up).
i should add: his son Marvis who we are all still in touch with, his wife just passed away about 2 years ago, very tragic. my husband used to work out @ smokin joe's gym when we still lived in philly!! WOW i have to show this to him. thanks again for the walk down memory lane!!
Cindy- I remember you saying that you knew Frazier and liked him alot.
Sorry to hear that about Marvis' wife.
Great story about you and your hubby in Philly. By all means, show this to him Cindy. It would be awesome if he did!
i just emailed the link!! been a LONG time since anyone has brought this fight up. do u remember over in the junkyard when the robe smokin joe wore for this fight was up for auction? a boxer friend of ours had it up for charity. 5000.00 it went for......we tried but even I had to say NO to 5000.00
LOL!
Cindy- Thanks for sending the link to him!
Yes, I do remember that YB post about Frazier and his fight robe. I never saw the result of that, and had no idea that you tried to get it yourself.
Well, the Thrilla in Manila was by far the best moment for October 1.
Thanks for the support Cindy!:)
though Ali won that night, I like to remember Joe winning the more important fight that American culture was riding on.
I met Joe outside of his dojo in Broad St. and thanked him for about 30 minutes.
What a nice man.
BSF? That thing we just talked about? Nachos refers to it on his TSN thing...he may need your help?
3rd- It's always good to meet someone as legendary as Joe Frazier, isn't it?
I'm going to see about contacting fanofreds about this. I thought I contacted him before, but maybe not. We'll see what we can do about that.
"Killar" as they chanted in the streets.. great write up.
Boxing has never been the same
Thanks for the support Cindy!:)
HA no thank YOU david!
3rd, joe is by far on the most awesomest ppl. ever, is he not?
he still wears his hat with the feather in the side of it too ;0
ali has nothin on smokin joe. sure he beat him but joe is a walking legend here. nice post man appreciated
MadMan- Agreed about boxing never being the same. I wasn't around during much of that era, but from what I've read, it was the most competitive era in boxing history.
Cindy- You really are providing good stuff about Frazier. Thanks.
rideordie- Frazier is a legend for sure. It was a great rivalry because of how different they really were. I don't know if sports will ever find a more fitting and intense rivlary like they had. And to think, I wasn't even alive to witness this or their other fights! Thanks for stopping by.
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