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The 'Thrilla In Manila' Happened 43 Years Ago Today

The 'Thrilla In Manila' Happened 43 Years Ago Today

Looking back at one of boxing's most epic fights

Rachael Grealish

Rachael Grealish

Mohammed Ali said taking Joe Frazier in the 'Thrilla in Manila' was 'the closest thing to dying' and watching back over the fight 43 years later you can see why.

PA

It was the world's most talked about heavyweight match ever, and a fitting climax to the Ali/Frazier trilogy - one that would have a lasting impact on both boxers.

Twenty-five-thousand fans were packed into Manila's Philippine Coliseum eager to see the showdown between the boxing rivals.

From the first bell the action was furious and ringside experts classed it among the finest heavyweight title bouts - if not the finest of them all.

Overall the match lasted 14 rounds and Ali was the victor after Frazier's coach, Eddie Futch, threw in the towel.


The match was laced with controversy and though Ali came out of it the winner, even he wasn't happy with it.

After 14 round the two heavyweights were never going to walk - or even stagger - away the same.

By the last few rounds of the fight Frazier was basically fighting blind - with one eye clouded by cataract and his other eye swollen shut - and Ali had to be held up by his team at the end.

After the fight, Ali wasn't able to do anything except rest on the couch in his dressing room - far too tired to provide any interviews. It took almost an hour before he was even able to emerge from the room and was only able to describe the legendary fight he'd just won as 'next to death'.

PA

This was quite the far cry from his previous battle with George Foreman where he won with by knockout in the eighth round.

Only able to stand by leaning on the shoulders of his two aides, Ali said: "I'm sore all over. My arms, my face, my sides all ache. I'm so, so tired.

"There is a great possibility that I will retire. You might have seen the last of me. I want to sit back and count my money, live in my house and my farm, work for my people and concentrate on my family."

PA

But boxing aside, there was a lot going on in the background with this fight.

Back in 1975 there was the feeling of a revolution brewing in the Philippines as a result of President Ferdinand Marcos' martial law declaration, three years earlier.

Corruption, poverty, and impending threats of insurgency were taking its toll on Marcos' so-called 'New Society' and people were losing trust so he thought of a distraction tactic - what else than hosting some world-class entertainment.

In order to outwardly portray the idea that everything was OK in the country to the rest of the world, Manila hosted the 23rd Miss Universe pageant, along with the 'Thrilla in Manila'.

PA

Marcos himself campaigned hard to have the third and final Ali-Frazier match held in Manila. As well as offering to cover the fight's expenses.

Ronnie Nathanielsz, a veteran boxing commentator who worked as Marcos' liaison officer to Ali for the 'Thrilla in Manila', said the late president, 'wanted to show that the Philippines was stable, they had no peace and order problem, and the country was moving forward economically'.

Though his plan was to show the country was suitable for national events, the fighters were also battling against the conditions in Manila, including the searing heat.

PA

It was reported that the temperature inside reached 107 degrees, even Doctor Pacheco, Ali's boxing physician, said that the heat 'was as intense as any fight I've ever been in'.

He said: "The heat in Manila is an 'I'm about to drown you in a monsoon' type of heat. Oppressive.

"I had a hard time breathing. Not only were all the seats filled, all the aisles were filled and their people crammed in the rafters. I don't know if you could squeeze in one more person. It was body to body."

'Thrilla in Manila' is one of the most famous fights in history, incredible to watch, but ultimately in the wrong circumstances, in the wrong place and, arguably, ended the careers of both boxers.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, News, Boxing, muhammad ali