Thrilla in Manila (part 5 of 6)

No Soccermatch today but another historical sport event. I Hope you enjoy it :)

The Thrilla in Manila is the third and final famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World, fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975.

The bout is often ranked as one of the greatest fights of 20th century boxing, and is the climax to the bitter rivalry between Ali and Frazier over who was the legitimate Heavyweight Champion. That situation came about after Ali was stripped of the title over his refusal to join the armed forces when drafted during the Vietnam war. 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 heavyweight champions in 1971.

During the whole period between their first and their last face-off in Manila, including the years which preceded the restoration of Ali's right to fight, Ali had used his wit, sharp tongue, and position with the press to take characteristic verbal pot shots at Frazier (as was his practice with all opponents—and which made good copy and controversy) but these became controversial and at times ugly, after his loss in the fight of the Century, and this verbal battery heated the rivalry into new territory.

Both boxers battled each other into near incapacity, and Frazier's trainer determined he should stop the bout after the fourteenth round, so the decision went to Ali as a technical knockout (TKO). The early and middle parts of the fight were close, with spectacular ebb and flow, and in the later rounds things gradually swung Ali's way in the scoring for any likely decision. The final match up between Ali and Frazier was ultimately detrimental to the health of both fighters. The first fight in 1971 between these two pugilists went fifteen rounds and the second fight going 12 rounds, which were both similarly hard on the participants.

source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrilla_in_Manila

Aftermath:
Ali: I always bring out the best in men I fight, but 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

Frazier:Lawdy, Lawdy his a great and mighty champion. I hit him with punches that would have brought down the walls of a city."

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Thrilla
• Manila
• Frazier
• Ali
• Boxing
• Boxen

[thetompenney1]

@supersesqui You're forgetting that he is still considered a better fighter than most heavyweights of any era. Frazier had stingy defense, a murderous left hook and a ruthless body attack. Not to mention a steel jaw.

[caloy2x]

Ali on a clench around Joe's back neck all night long, preventing Joe from effectively punishing him, and he didn't even get a penalty for doing so. Ali was looking like a cheater here and Joe didn't deserve a loss in this fight.

[ph1484]

@tehnicianu1 Why?? He's kicking his ass.

[ph1484]

@jackpoz333 LOL yeah, keep drinking the Kool Aid.

[ph1484]

As I see it, Joe's showing great determination. But he's taking too many shots. Not a close fight at all. And the judges didn't see it that way either.

[MrTheGeekGuy]

@Humanicus it means "god is great" big deal

[jackpoz333]

if you watch the post fight interviews you can clearly see that ali is hurt much more than frazier also ali wanted to quit but right before he could eddie futch threw in the towel so really terrible luck is the only reason joe lost

[Humanicus]

Somebody in Ali's corner yells "Allah hu akbar" at 5:24

[josephcawley1]

If you don't think these punches have some strength even this late in the fight, look at the reaction of the rope when frazier's punch hits it at 0:55 of this clip.

[adobezgaca]

how come none of them is cut or anything with the shots they'e given eachother Im supprised they still got they're eyes in they're sockets , but were the gloves different back then or something or do the just got hardy skin ??