Manila, Philippines – October 1, 1975.
In a truly astonishing display of skill and resilience, Muhammad Ali secured yet another thrilling victory, decisively defeating “Smokin’” Joe Frazier over 14 grueling rounds to defend his world heavyweight championship, marking his fourth successful title defense of the year.
Spectators at the Philippine Coliseum witnessed one of heavyweight boxing`s most legendary encounters, a contest that matched the intensity and sheer drama of their previous two historic clashes.
Though Frazier had remained on his feet, his legs were visibly faltering by the 14th round. His trainer, Eddie Futch, made the compassionate decision to stop the fight at the round`s conclusion. Frazier`s face was a testament to Ali`s punishing blows, yet Ali himself emerged far from untouched, having endured a brutally tough fight.
Despite Ali being the local favorite at 6-5 odds, there were critical junctures, particularly in the eighth and ninth rounds, where it appeared “Smokin` Joe” might indeed outlast the then 33-year-old champion.
However, true to his legendary character, Ali drew upon his profound courage and unwavering pride, rallying to seize control and ultimately secure the victory.
This victory was not achieved through feints or clinches; Ali earned it by standing firm and exchanging powerful punches with an opponent determined to demolish him. While the outcomes of their first two intense encounters were fiercely debated, this time, Ali`s triumph left no room for dispute.
The 31-year-old Frazier lived up to his word, starting aggressively and delivering an all-out effort. Yet, the relentless barrage of Ali`s punches in the 12th, 13th, and 14th rounds progressively wore him down.
Our scoring indicated Ali was ahead by four rounds at the conclusion. Frazier had expended his immense energy in the initial ten rounds, which we scored evenly. Beyond that point, it was sheer pride and extraordinary fighting spirit that propelled him through further punishment.
The anticipation for the “Thrilla in Manila” was somewhat overshadowed by headlines regarding Ali`s personal life. His wife, Belinda, departed for the United States after spending only 12 hours in Manila, reportedly disapproving of Ali`s relationship with Veronica Porsche, a striking model from California.
Ali famously rebuked reporters, stating, “I won’t tell you who to sleep with if you don’t tell me who to sleep with.” He later dismissed the entire incident as a staged event for publicity.
Some observers speculated that Ali`s off-ring activities might impact his performance. However, his supporters had no cause for concern, as the champion delivered a compelling showcase of courage and fighting prowess, ultimately outfighting Frazier at his own relentless, all-out attacking style.
Each round delivered thrilling action, with both fighters landing bone-rattling blows. Yet, it was Ali who consistently demonstrated superior shot selection, landing crisp straight punches to the face and head, and incorporating jarring uppercuts. Frazier, with unwavering determination, relentlessly pressed forward, aiming to overwhelm Ali with the sheer ferocity of his assault.
While both champions had undeniably shown signs of decline, Frazier`s deterioration was more apparent, his prior six knockdowns against George Foreman having left a lasting impact. Nevertheless, Frazier remained a formidable and defiant challenger, pushing Ali to the absolute boundaries of his stamina.
By the fight`s end, Frazier`s eyes were swollen and disfigured, with a grotesque bulge of flesh above his left eye, and blood seeped from his mouth.
Ali, too, suffered a cut inside his mouth and bruising around his right eye. Both competitors stoically absorbed the immense pain and punishment as the battle continued without mercy. Their performances were nothing short of superb.
In the 14th, Frazier visibly staggered under Ali`s assault. Trainer Eddie Futch, recognizing the grave danger, almost certainly prevented a knockout by retiring Joe at the round`s conclusion. A Filipino doctor was ready to examine Frazier, but Futch`s decision was firm: Frazier`s night was unequivocally over.
Upon the completion of 14 rounds, the Filipino officials – referee Carlos Padilla and the two judges – had Ali leading convincingly with scores of 66-60, 67-62, and 66-62, respectively, utilizing the five-point scoring system.
Esteemed officials like British referee Harry Gibbs and Americans Zack Clayton and Jay Edson, all veterans of world heavyweight title bouts, were brought in at the Philippine Government`s expense and placed on standby. However, their expertise was ultimately not utilized, as the Philippine controlling body opted for local officials, citing a desire to ensure absolute impartiality.
The fight commenced at a blistering pace, and the intensity never waned. Referee Padilla occasionally cautioned Ali for clinching Frazier around the neck, an apparent attempt by the champion to catch his breath. Frazier, operating at full throttle, continuously advanced, unleashing powerful body hooks whenever Ali sought refuge against the ropes.
The bout featured numerous thrilling exchanges, frequently with Ali cornered or pressed against the ropes. Frazier expertly evaded many of Ali`s sweeping right hands and left hooks, but Ali maintained his offensive, often missing a few punches before connecting with a flurry of one to five solid shots as Frazier emerged from his defensive crouch.
The sheer excitement of the fight made the rounds fly by. Our scorecard awarded Ali the first two rounds due to his precise countering, but Frazier`s relentless pressure denied Ali any opportunity to rest or coast.
During the third round, Ali strategically retreated to the ropes, inviting Frazier to engage. Joe eagerly obliged, delivering brutal body hooks and occasionally probing Ali`s gloves, searching for vulnerabilities in the champion`s formidable defense of muscled biceps and forearms.
A left hook, though slightly high, visibly stunned Ali in this round, prompting an uproar of excitement from the crowd. We unequivocally scored this round for Frazier. However, Ali mounted a strong comeback in the fourth, expertly targeting Frazier`s head with hooks and powerful blows, while Joe focused primarily on body shots.
Frazier passionately clapped his gloves together as he charged out for the fifth round, only to be met by Ali`s sharp three-punch combination: a right, a left hook, and another right.
Undeterred, Frazier pressed forward, staying close to Ali and battering his body with hooks. One particularly potent Frazier hook to the jaw left Ali clearly troubled.
Frazier was truly “smoking” in the sixth round, twice connecting with significant hooks. His relentless assault and punishing body shots appeared to place Ali under considerable duress.
Once more, Ali retaliated to reclaim control, unleashing sharp jabs in the seventh round and perfectly timing his uppercuts as Frazier advanced.
The fight`s tempo was absolutely grueling from the eighth through the tenth rounds. Frazier remained full of fighting spirit and resolve. While Ali`s counters occasionally halted Joe`s advance, Frazier invariably surged forward again, absorbing blows to deliver his own, grunting with effort as he drove hooks into Ali`s body.
However, the tide distinctly turned in Ali`s favor in the 11th round, as powerful right hands snapped Frazier`s head back. Frazier`s punching became noticeably more inconsistent, and he began to show clear signs of weakening.
In the 13th, a perfectly timed right hand sent Frazier`s gumshield flying from his mouth, signaling that Joe was now enduring a severe pounding.
Ali unleashed a furious volley of punches in the 14th round, precisely placing his shots and connecting with such force that spray flew from Joe`s head. Frazier was swaying precariously, though still attempting to retaliate, when the bell mercifully ended the round, and his compassionate trainer Futch signaled a dignified surrender.
After the fight, Ali collapsed onto his stool, his corner frantically fanning him with a towel; he appeared utterly spent. When asked his opinion of Frazier, Ali declared, “He’s the greatest after me.”
Indeed, Muhammad, we couldn`t agree more.
During the weigh-in the Saturday prior to the bout, Ali registered at 16 stone, 0.5 pounds, while Frazier weighed in at 15 stone, 5.5 pounds.
Oliver Croft