The Thrilla in Manila

The Thrilla in Manila. At first glance you might think it’s the title of a second rate foreign comedy tv show, or maybe a roller coaster ride at Corney Island, but really it was possibly one of the best heavyweight boxing matches in history between two legends, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.

Born Jan. 12, 1944, Joe Frazier was the son of Rubin Frazier, a share cropper in Beaufort Country, South Carolina. Joe grew up watching boxing legends after his father purchased a black and white TV. Eventually Frazier found his way to Philadelphia where he soon became a bona-fide boxer. In 1961 he joined the Police Athletic League gym where he would meet the trainer that would turn him into one of the best boxers in all time, Yank Durham.

Frazier landing his signature left hook in
"The Fight of the Century."

Frazier would soon become an international boxing super star. He won the gold medal at the 1964 Olympics, which would bring him enough attention to be funded by a small group of boxing fans. In 1965 he made his pro debut, and by 1970, he beat the heavyweight champion, Jimmy Ellis, in a mere five rounds, making Frazier the undisputed heavy weight champion of the world. But in 1971 he would finally meet a match for his skill, Muhammad Ali. On March 8th, the two fought in “The Fight of the Century”, at Madison Square Garden in New York, and after 15 grueling rounds, Frazier landed his signature left hook to end the match.

In 1974 the two met again at Madison Square Garden to decide who would get the chance to fight the current champ at the time, George Foreman. “Ali won the decision in Madison Square Garden, though Frazier and several sportswriters, including The New York Times' Red Smith and Dave Anderson, thought he had won.” Ali would go on to retire for a year before coming out victorious against Joe Bugner. Joe Frazier was at the fight taunting Ali throughout and Ali learned that “People want to see me fight Joe Frazier.” Ali agreed. “When I retire I don’t want anybody around who people think could beat me.” Thus the date was set on October 1st, 1975, the two greatest boxing champs in the world would fight for one last time.

The weeks up to the event were very interesting. Ali declared that the fight would be “A killa and a thrilla and a chilla when he got the gorilla in Manila,” referring to the slurs that he said to Frazier before their very first fight. Both Frazier and Ali trained long and hard before the fight, but Ali had some bad practices just a week before the big fight. “I didn’t look good but I knew what I was doing, I don’t train like other men.” Ali had been paid $4.5 million, more than twice what Frazier received.

The Thrilla in Manilla. Frasier left, Ali Right.

At 10:45 the fight would begin. The start was similar to many of the previous fights between the two legends. Ali opened up with a series of quick sharp punches to Frazier who just stood there and absorbed them, trying to tire Ali. In the fifth round the climate changed. Frazier began to back Ali into a corner pummeling him with punches to the body and the head, and Ali felt the pain. Ali wanted to quit after the pummeling he received in the earlier round, but his coach pushed him back in. “Angelo Dundee sent him out saying that this is the thing that separates the men from the boys.” Dundee was right, during the next three rounds Ali would punish Frazier, puffing up his cheeks and eyes, exhausting both men. Eddie Futch, much to Frazier’s dismay, prevented him from entering the final round, for fear of fatality. Thus Muhammad Ali became the undisputed victor, but instead of the usual taunting that would follow, Ali said that the fight was, "the closest thing to dying," he ever experienced.

Soon after the fight Ali would announce his retirement. “It’s too much work. Too painful. I might have a heart attack. I want everyone to know that I’m the greatest fighter of all time.” He retired with a 56-5-0 record and 37 knockouts. Frazier would go for one final fight before retiring after being knocked out during the fifth round to George Foreman. Five years later Frazier would come out of retirement, for one last fight against Floyd "Jumbo" Cummings, a draw, finishing his career with a 32-4-1 record and 27 knockouts, and passed away late last year from liver cancer on November 7th. "The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration," Ali said in a short statement. "My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."

The rivalry that will never be forgotten

The rivalry between legendary boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier started long before their first fight, and its impact still lasts today. As soon as Frazier won his first Olympic gold medal in 1964, four years after Ali’s first medal, they were destined to fight each other.


Ali was first to arrive on the scene. In 1964, before Frazier had started his career, Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world. In 1967, he risked his career, title, and undefeated record because he refused to accept the draft under the reason that it offended his Muslim beliefs. He was then stripped of his title and lost his career. After three years, Ali was finally readmitted into the boxing world, winning three consecutive matches and anticipating his debut with Joe Frazier.

Joe Frazier started his career later than Ali, but he wasn’t any worse. He started his career in 1965 after winning a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics. He won 14 straight matches and was ready to fight Ali when Ali was stripped of his title. After that, Frazier won nine more matches to remain undefeated and become the new heavyweight champion. When Ali reentered the boxing world, Frazier focused all of his time preparing for the upcoming fight with Ali.


As the big fight between Ali and Frazier was approaching, Ali had been publicly insulting Frazier, repeatedly calling him an “Uncle Tom." This was one of Ali’s classic moves, verbally wearing down his opponent before the fight and playing with their confidence. Frazier couldn’t understand this strategy. It confused him because they were already promised $2.5 million and the fight was already a guaranteed sellout, so they did not have to do anything extra to promote their fight. As a result, Frazier did not retaliate with insults of his own.


The fight that would later be dubbed as “The Fight of the Century,” was the most anticipated battle of its time. Riots broke out across the country over who would win the fight. The day that Ali and Frazier were supposed to fight each other, Madison Square Garden was sold out and it was to be televised across the world. Ali and Frazier were evenly matched, and no one could have predicted the outcome. One of Ali’s most famous sayings was, “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee,” and during the match he did exactly that. But even Ali was not immune to Frazier’s left hook, the punch that led Ali sprawling to the floor in the 15th round. Ali was able to recover, and stayed up for the rest of the match. The unanimous decision was made at the end of the round. Frazier had won the fight and kept the title.


After Frazier’s victory, Ali and Frazier had two more matches, both of which Muhammad Ali had won. The “Thrilla in Manila,” was their most devastating fight. Before the fight, Ali had said, “It’s gonna be a killa, a chilla, a thrilla, when I get the gorilla in Manila.” The fighting started at the first bell and continued for 14 brutal rounds. Frazier didn’t come out of the corner at the end of the 14th round, giving Ali the win by technical knockout. After the fight, Ali said, “It was like death. Closest thing to dyin' that I know of.”


Ali and Frazier did not just leave a few good fights for everyone to talk about. Their rivalry changed the face of boxing by setting new standards for other boxers. They are role models for people who grew up in harsh conditions. They showed that it didn't matter what your beliefs are, where you come from, and what your background is because these tings aren’t barriers to achievement. Together, Ali and Frazier left a mark on society that will never be forgotten.