Thrilla in Manila (part 6 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_...

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."

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[fiveqngamer]

If you really love boxing, you'll love both fighters. Nothing compares to the amount of heart both fighters shown in Manila.

[Vincent Fisher]

This fight was brutal because both men were long past their primes; especially Frazier who was suffering fro various ailments. He hated Ali so much he wanted this bout in order to crucify Ali. Frazier was at his peak in their first bout and declined afterwards. Compare that fight and his prior bouts to those after 1971. Frazier simply wasn't the same guy.

[ManofSteel3720]

Very, very true AND accurate statement.

[1Tomrider]

Not that they were slow, but they were slowER than in their first fight. That both met each other at a similar arc in their careers produced one of the best fights in boxing history. Ali fainted after it was over and we have to wonder what would have happened if they'd come out for the 15th round. Both were destroyed, but Ali was in ~worse~ shape, Frazier's vision notwithstanding,

[daveyork0]

The fight ends and he says 'Muhammad Ali is spent and he needs some space', then 'We're trying to get our camera in close to him'

[crosstimbers2]

No you need to watch Ali before he was banned from boxing. He was faster than any heavyweight when he was in his early 20s. He typically jabbed the face off of his opponents.

[ph1484]

Only partially true. He said he was close to death because of the heat -- not a blind Joe Frazier who was getting his ass brutalized. The "cut the gloves off" quote is from 1964 when he fought Sonny Liston blinded.

[Darionthisguy]

ali said he was going to in his autobiography, he was asking his trainer to cut his gloves off and said he had never been closer to death

[nazirdjon]

did you watch the fight? Frazier lost according to rules of boxing, ie his coach resigned. If you talk out of boxing, then it is even worse, because had they continued both of them could get well injured with Frazier having the worst of it. I love both of these great warrior.

[Jorge Aparicio]

when he was at the beginning of his career he was really fast for a heavyweight, he was around 215lb in this fight hes at 224 wich is why hes slower but still fast for a 224lb man.

[Nick Garcia]

Every one talks about how fast ali was but just watch all three frazier vs ali fights. Frazier hit him with that left hook over and over and over. Ali was a bit overrated. Still good fights with great fighters.