On October 1, 1975, the so-called “Boxing of the Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World took place at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Then- President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. offered to hold the bout in Metro Manila. Don King, the promoter, amused by the gesture, agreed to hold the fight at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Produced by King and broadcast to many countries worldwide with HBO’s antenna, The Thrilla in Manila had a tremendous media following.
Ali won via technical knockout in the 14th round against Frazier, who was virtually helpless and nearly knocked down. It was their third and final boxing match.
Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, decided to stop the fight between rounds rather than risk a worse fate for Frazier in the 15th round.
His decision to stop the bout in round 14 was made as Frazier was almost blind as he stepped in, and was met once more with punishing blows from Ali.
It was later revealed that Frazier actually had a cataract in his left eye and, with the punishment from Ali closing his right eye, Frazier was effectively fighting blind in the last rounds of the fight.
The referee of the match was Carlos Padilla Jr., a Filipino who came to international prominence because of the bout.
Ali and Frazier first met on the ring on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where the latter won the title by unanimous decision by flooring Ali on the 15th round with a hard-leaping left hook.
Earlier, on January 28, 1974, Ali won a unanimous 12-round decision in a non-title rematch with Frazier, who had already lost his title to George Foreman. Ali was also recently beaten by Ken Norton.
As a tribute to Ali, in the Philippines, the first multi-level commercial shopping mall located at the Araneta Center in Quezon City, right beside the Araneta Coliseum where the “Thrilla in Manila” took place, was named “Ali Mall” in honor of the “The Greatest” champion.
Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in late September 2011. By November 2011, he was under hospice care, where he died on November 7 at the age of 67.
Ali passed away on June 3, 2016, after a more than 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 74.
Source: Philippine News Agency archives, Wikipedia
Photo credit and caption text: http://sjposters.wordpress.com
(Filed by Jr Amigo/ai/mnm)
President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. applauds as Frazier (right) makes some remarks about Ali (left) when they visit the Malacanang Palace. Between the two fighters is Marcos’ wife, FL Imelda.