THRILLA IN MANILA MUHAMMAD ALI v JOE FRAZIER
Oct 1, 1975, Quezon City, Philippines
IN the latest of a 12-fight series, our Boxing Correspondent recalls when Ali pushed himself to the limit... JUST as they are saying about Mayweather v Pacquiao, the perceived wisdom was that Ali-Frazier was coming five years too late for two greats in their 30s. Let us hope they are spectacularly wrong again. That night in New York when Smokin’ Joe defeated The Greatest had been followed in 1974 by a tamer, scrappier, points victory for Ali. And so to the final part of the trilogy, a year later. Both men had battled George Foreman, Frazier losing and Ali enjoying his famous Rumble in the Jungle win. Ali returned to his customary psychological baiting ahead of the fight. He insulted Frazier again, chanting: ‘It will be a Killa and a Thrilla and a Chilla when I get The Gorilla in Manila.’ The quiet Frazier was plotting to break down Ali with shots to the stomach, ribs, kidneys and liver, quoting the old ring maxim: ‘If you kill the body, the head will die.’ Ali won the early rounds while his legs were at their freshest. But it was impossible for him to keep dancing in the pressure-cooker heat, with the ring temperature reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit. As Muhammad started slowing, Joe began Smokin’. They would engage in one of the most brutal spectacles in the annals of the hardest game. Ali was forced to lower his guard as they landed more than 100 blows to the head between them. Frazier’s eyes began to close in the ninth. When Ali sent his gum-shield flying in the 13th, he could barely see. Exhausted though he was, Ali went for the Killa in the 14th. Although the barrage which sent Frazier staggering could not put him down, it was enough to bring a sensational end to an epic battle. Ali ordered his corner-man Jabir Herbert Muhammad to cut off his gloves, saying he could not go on. But before he could, Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch called a halt. A relieved Ali famously said: ‘This is the closest to death I’ve ever been.’ Frazier begged to be allowed to see out the 15th and final round but Futch told him: ‘It’s over. No-one will ever forget what you did here today.’ Frazier never forgave him. Not fully. Ali defied the rigours of Parkinson’s to attend Frazier’s funeral in 2011.