Remembering the Thrilla in Manila! The fight for life and glory or the story of the most famous fight in boxing history. Starring Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier

Exactly 48 years ago, a fight was born that changed the world of boxing forever. So let’s go back in time to relive one of the most iconic moments in boxing history. Two implacable rivals, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, faced off in a trilogy known in professional circles as the Thrilla in Manila.

Today marks the anniversary of a legendary clash that left an indelible mark on the world of boxing. Let us therefore embark on a journey through the fight in which two titans of boxing clashed with each other for the third time in a literal war to the death.

The birth of a rivalry that transcends the boundaries of sport

To understand the full context between these two men, we must be transported back to 1971, when the “Fight of the Century” took place at the famous Madison Square Garden. Muhammad Ali had gone from a brash kid who, at just 22 years old, captivated the boxing world by demolishing the fearsome Sonny Liston, to a renowned world champion and the voice of the African-American people.

In the most anticipated fight in the sport’s history to date, the undefeated Ali took on the holder of the titles he lost due to his refusal to participate in the Vietnam War. That man was none other than the equally immaculate Joe Frazier.

The trash talk from Ali, which went far beyond what Frazier could take, divided society. A rivalry that crossed the boundaries of sport was to end that day. But when Frazier was able to defeat his opponent, everything began anew.

It was no wonder when, three years later, a rematch entitled “Super Fight II” was staged. Although it was not a title fight, as neither of the two rivals was champion, the fight was of course full of anticipation from eager fans.

The tension was then heightened when both men brawled in the television studio. The match itself was then controversial with ambiguous moments and unclear decisions by the referees. Although Ali won on points, there was much speculation after the fight about the fairness of the result.

The Thrilla in Manila trilogy changed the world of boxing forever

An enraged Ali was so eager for the third fight to end all debate for good. His wish was granted on October 1, 1975, when the trilogy entitled “Thrilla in Manila” took place. As the title suggests, the scene of the monumental battle was the Philippines.

The match was fought under difficult conditions, with intense heat and humidity playing a significant role, adding to the already high stakes of the match. The temperature in the arena under the aluminium roof was estimated at an almost unbelievable 120 °F / 49°C. In addition, the match took place at 10am due to the international crowd.

Muhammad Ali, the master of psychological warfare, naturally gave the fight the appropriate hype with his crushing trash talk, which did not cease even during the fight itself. Ali started dominantly, using his superior reach and punching speed to dominate the first two rounds convincingly.

Ali was so confident in his superiority that even throughout the fight his attempts to taunt his opponent did not cease. Frazier couldn’t seem to find his rhythm and was more or less searching throughout the fight. The turning point then came from the third round onwards, when Ali attempted to do what had worked perfectly for him a year earlier against George Foreman in a bout known as The Rumble in the Jungle.

With his back hanging on the ropes, Ali tried quick counters, but allowed his opponent to do what he was strongest at. In close quarters, Frazier was able to land several hard shots and “Smoking Joe” was back! From that point on, Ali’s defense got noticeably worse.

The sixth round showed just how durable a fighter Muhammad Ali was. During this round, Ali absorbed the hardest punches from his revenge-seeking opponent. Although some stiffness was noticeable, Ali was still on his feet and dotted Frazier with quick counters as he raced forward.

Both Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier put their whole lives into the fight

With the final bell of a frenzied ninth round, Ali then came to his corner, where he reportedly said he was as close to death as he had ever been. Frazier, on the other hand, was having trouble with swelling around his eye, which got progressively worse after dozens of accurate shots. Naturally, Ali began to take more advantage of this, and Frazier took far more hits, a large number of which he reportedly didn’t see at all.

From that point on, a tremendous beating began, accompanied by terrified screams from fans near the ring. In the thirteenth round, Frazier absorbed around thirty clean punches, which Ali had used to knock out the feared George Foreman a year earlier. But Frazier continued to put constant pressure on his opponent in “zombie mode”.

The 14th round perfectly underlined the title of the event. After a thriller round, “Smoking Joe” coach Eddie Futch had to make the painful decision to stop the fight to prevent further damage to his charge. Ali, who was also past his limit, barely got up from his chair, but was unable to celebrate much.

Joe Frazier, of course, was not one with his trainer’s decision and later admitted that he was willing to die in the ring that day. Ali later admitted that he might not have even entered the fifteenth round due to exhaustion.

The literally insane fight left a lasting legacy not only in the boxing world, but also in the realm of sports and technology. It showed the unbreakable heart and determination of two champions who put their entire lives into the fight. Their legendary battle continues to inspire generations of athletes and fans to this day, reminding us how far human determination can go on the road to a legacy of immortality.

Source: Thrilla in Manila documentary, Wikipedia, Youtube