Thrilla in Manila 50th Anniversary
50 years ago on Oct. 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met in the ring for the final chapter in a trilogy of epic boxing events, for 14 brutal rounds in Manila, Philippines.
Neither side would fold, fighting through exhaustion until both fighters were battered and bruised. Before the bell could ring for the final round, Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch stepped into the ring, telling the referee that his fighter, barely able to see, had had enough.
The fight, aptly named “Thrilla in Manila,” lived up to its name. The fight for the heavyweight title that Ali won a year earlier from George Foreman in another fight, the “Rumble in the Jungle,” is one of the most memorable heavyweight title fights in boxing history. Frazier had beat Ali in the “Fight of the Century,” five years earlier at Madison Square Garden.
World heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, left, points at challenger Joe Frazier at a news conference in New York City, Thursday, July 17, 1975. Standing between the fighters is boxing promoter Don King. (AP Photo)
World heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali holds one of two butterfly nets he brought with him to a news conference, July 17, 1975, in New York. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)
Boxing promoter Don King talks with reporters in New York City on Aug. 26, 1975. King is promoting the third Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier title fight in Manila, Oct. 1. (AP Photo)
Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali confronts challenger Joe Frazier during a news conference in New York, Aug. 26, 1975. Ali barged into the conference causing commotion with newsmen ready to record the event. He is slated to defend his title against Frazier in Manila, Oct. 1. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
World heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, right, recites a poetic note as he receives a “Smokin” Joe Frazier tee-shirt from Frazier’s son Marvis, left, upon his arrival in Manila on Monday, Sept. 15, 1975. (AP Photo/Jess Tan)
Former world boxing champion Joe Frazier, center, is surrounded by security men as he arrives with his crew in Manila, Philippines on Sept. 13, 1975. (AP Photo/Jess Tan)
Heavyweight boxing challenger Joe Frazier sings a few bars from his latest song "First Round Knockout" during a news conference in Manila, Philippines on Sept.15, 1975. (AP Photo/Jess Tan)
Muhammad Ali, world heavyweight champion, punches a speed bag on Sept. 29, 1975 at the Folk Art Center in Manila, Philippines as he prepares for his title fight on Oct. 1 with Joe Frazier. (AP Photo/Jess Tan)
Muhammad Ali, world heavyweight champion, pounds a heavy bag during a workout in Manila, Philippines, on Sept. 25, 1975, where he is scheduled for a title fight on October 1, with Joe Frazier. (AP Photo)
Muhammad Ali, world heavyweight champion on Monday, Sept. 29, 1975 at Folk Art Center in Manila as he prepares for his title fight on Tuesday with Joe Frazier. (AP Photo/Jess Tan)
A trainer slams a medicine ball into Joe Frazier’s middle during a workout in Manila, Sept. 28, 1975. Watching in rear, left, is Duane Bobick, Frazier’s sparmate. Frazier meets Ali in a heavyweight title fight September 30 to October 1, Manila time in Manila. (AP Photo)
Joe Frazier works out with a light punching bag, as he trains in Manila on Thursday, Sept. 25, 1975 for his fight on September 30 there with Muhammad Ali, world heavyweight champion. (AP Photo)
Heavyweight contender Joe Frazier introduces his daughter Natasha, 5, during a post-workout interview in Manila, Philippines on Sept. 28, 1975. (AP Photo)
Muhammad Ali, world heavyweight champion, talks to reporters on Sept. 29, 1975 at the Folk Art Center in Manila, Philippines after working out for his title fight with Joe Frazier. (AP Photo/Jess Tan)
Muhammad Ali puts full shoulder force with his right at Joe Frazier in the first round at the Coliseum in Manila, Philippines, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo)
Muhammad Ali, left, grimaces as he exchanges blows with Joe Frazier in the first round of their title bout at the Coliseum in Manila, Philippines, Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo/Mitsunori Chigita)
A left to the middle section makes Muhammad Ali wince on the receiving end from Joe Frazier in the middle rounds of their bout in Manila, Philippines at the Coliseum, Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo)
Muhammad Ali peeks through his raised gloves as Joe Frazier backs the champion against the ropes in the third round of their title bout at the Coliseum in Manila, Philippines, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo/Ed Kolenovsky)
Heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier grimaces after Muhammad Ali landed a blow to Frazier's head during fight action of their heavyweight bout in Manila, the Philippines on Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo)
Spray flies from the head of challenger Joe Frazier, left, as heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali connects with a right in the ninth round of their title fight in Manila, Philippines, Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo/Mitsunori Chigita)
Muhammad Ali connects with the top of Joe Frazier's head in the 13th round of their bout for the heavyweight title at Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Philippines, Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo/Kenichi Mori)
Muhammad Ali is in the ring surrounded by his trainers, handlers and doctors after winning in the 14th round against Joe Frazier at the Coliseum in Manila, Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo)
Muhammad Ali, still the heavyweight champion of the world, after his fight with Joe Frazier, is led to his dressing room in Manila, Philippines at the Coliseum, Oct. 1, 1975. (AP Photo)
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The Associated Press article, "Ali Undisputed King Following Brutal Defense Of Title," by Will Grimsley, published Oct. 1, 1975 in The Bee - Danville, Virginia.
Frazier and Ali interviews post-fight.
President Ferdinand Marcos, left, of the Philippines, presents the President's Trophy to heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, second from right, after Ali defeated Joe Frazier in their "Thrilla in Manila" fight at the Coliseum in Manila, Oct. 1, 1975. Posing from left are, President Marcos; promoter Don King; Ali's brother, Rahman; Ali, and his father Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., right. (AP Photo)
Text and curation by photo editor Kathleen Elliott
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