Thrilla in Manila

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Thrilla in Manila refers to a famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on October 1, 1975 in Quezon City , now a part of the region Metro Manila , Philippines . It was the last of three fights between Ali and Frazier. After a clear points win by Frazier and a narrow victory for Ali in the previous fights, Ali again just had the upper hand in Manila. The fight went down in boxing history because of its high intensity and the accompanying circumstances.

prehistory

The fight was organized by Don King , who evaded the capital of the Philippines in order to avoid the stricter requirements in the USA . The fight took place in front of 25,000 spectators at the Araneta Coliseum and was broadcast by the US broadcaster HBO and followed on television worldwide.
Frazier and Ali, who at the time had also developed an intense personal dislike for each other, were - along with Foreman - the dominant figures in heavyweight boxing at the time . The numerous incidents since the first Ali-Frazier fight - including the fight at the ABC television station in 1974 and the ballyhoo of the eloquent Ali against Frazier - ensured a correspondingly heated atmosphere in advance.

Ali weighed 224.5 pounds (102 kg), Frazier 215.5 pounds (98 kg). Ali was 8: 5 favorite with the bookmakers.

The fight

Ali dominated the early rounds with his speed, reaching from the 4th round but increasingly on its already in the Rumble in the Jungle practiced rope-a-dope tactics back and had in the sixth round suffered a severe hit. The fight now increased significantly in intensity, and an exceptionally high hit rate was achieved. As a result, as well as due to the loss of fluids and the unbearable humidity , the fighters were in mortal danger in this phase in the non- air-conditioned hall, according to Ali's ring doctor Ferdie Pacheco .

In the 13th round, Ali scored several heavy hits, which brought Frazier to the brink of a knockout . Ali began to dominate the fight now clearly. Since Frazier's right eye was largely swollen shut in the 14th lap (and he saw extremely poorly on the left after a training accident), he could hardly defend himself. Ali Frazier repeatedly hit the head with combinations. Despite the constant head hits, Frazier managed to stay on his feet. Following this round, Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch broke off the fight. Immediately afterwards, Ali suffered a collapse . On the score sheets of the three referees, Ali was unanimously in the lead when the fight was stopped (8-5-1, 8-2-4, 9-3-2), while the sports reporters saw the fight evenly or even had Frazier in front.

If Ali had publicly ridiculed and humiliated Frazier before this fight, he spoke in the press conference after the fight about his opponent with the greatest respect and called him great.

Quotes

Ali:

  • "Are species-protected animals allowed to enter the Philippines?"
  • "It's gonna be a thrilla // and a chilla // and a killa // when I get the gorilla // in Manila."
  • "Joe Frazier is the greatest boxer of all time - next to me."
  • "We came to Manila as young champions and left as old men."

Frazier:

  • "I tear the heart out of this half-blood."
  • “Almighty, what a champion! I hit him with beatings that would have brought down a city ​​wall , and he put it away. What a fighter! "

Web links

literature

  • Mark Kram: Ghosts of Manila. The fateful blood feud between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier . Harper Collins, New York 2001, ISBN 0-06-019557-6 .