Philippines, 17 Feb 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


MUHAMMAD ALI: THE ROAD TO THRILLA IN MANILA


PhilBoxing.com




Muhammad Ali was sidelined for three-and-a-half long years brought about by his suspension for refusing to be drafted into the military. Such suspension was lifted in August 1970.
Two months later Ali climbed up the ring and knocked out Jerry Quarry in three rounds in Atlanta paving the way for his second fight since being reinstated this time against Oscar Bonavena in New York. He won via a 15th round technical knockout.

Ali used the Bonavena encounter to prove he still got what it takes to send anyone to dreamland or go the distance. He dropped the Argentinian three times in the pivotal round, a feat Joe Frazier failed to do in earlier two meetings leading him to entertain the thoughts that he was ready to face the then current champion, 'Smokin Joe,' an old friend turned-arch enemy.
And so the first episode of the "Fights of the Century" trilogy between the finest and the best heavyweights of their era was on. The script of his triumphant return to claim the title easily, which to him was temporarily loaned to his rival in view of his force hibernation.

It didn't work out that way though. Like him, Frazier was an undefeated champion who rose to his throne the hard way, enough to earn for him the respect of the entire pugilistic world.
Contrary to what Ali thought, the fight, held March 8, 1971 turned out to be a 'you give me, I give you' murderous encounter for the whole of 15 rounds to the delight of the standing room only crowd. Simply called "the Fight," there was nothing simple about it - as shown by the endless articles, books and documentaries that have explored about it.

Both men were guaranteed $2.5 million each, which, in those times was the biggest. Anyone who was anyone was there. Even Frank Sinatra was at ringside taking pictures of the proceedings.
The defending champion put Ali down flat on his back with a brute of a left hook in the final round that proved the turning point of a unanimous decision by the three judges, one of whom turning in a lopsided 11-4 victory for Frazier.

After the fight, Ali landed in a hospital with a suspected broken jaw. While in the hospital, still dazed a disoriented, he told media men "Must have been a helluva fight, I'm so tired." leading his audience to believe that his long layoff must have really sapped a lot of his energy.

The speed in his legs and fists, his stamina could have, according to observers, finally deserted him. Ali, later on showed how wrong they were. The former titlist picked up from where he left.

He started knocking out all the top contenders one after another -- Jimmy Ellis, Buster Mathis and Bob Foster. Britain's Joe Bugner lasted the distance.

Frazier, by contrast, took it easy. Basking in the glory of his conquest of Ali, he scored uneventful fourth-round stoppage each over virtually unheard of Terry Daniels and Ron Stander in 1972.
Ali took advantage of the situation by repeatedly taunting his arch enemy. The world wanted an Ali-Frazier 2!

Photo: Muhammad Ali fights Britain's Joe Bugner in a rematch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 1, 1975 leading to the Ali-Frazier fight in Manila.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • IM Chito Danilo Garma rules 5th AQ Prime Standard Open chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 17 Feb 2025
  • Ryan Clark defeats Ross Rodriguez in Old-fashioned barnburner fight
    , Mon, 17 Feb 2025
  • Vince Paras Secures Impressive TKO Victory in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Concio unbeaten for IIEE Quezon to advance to Finals of PTC-WED
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • OSCAR "LA MIGRAÑA" DUARTE HANDS MIGUEL "EXPLOSIVO" MADUEÑO HIS FIRST CAREER KNOCKOUT LOSS TO CLAIM WBA CONTINENTAL AMERICAS SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • US Olympics Silver Medalist Nabs Pro "Gold"; Keyshawn Davis Wins WBO Crown by Knockout
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Roy Jones Jnr and Israil Madrimov Break Down Canelo-Crawford Fight
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • April 5: Heavyweight Titans Richard Torrez Jr. & Guido Vianello to Collide at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas LIVE on ESPN+
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Cleveland, OKC Keep Lead But Old Vets Dominate All Stars Squads
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • IM Garma notches third win in 5th AQ Prime Standard Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Business Handled: Keyshawn Davis Crushes Denys Berinchyk in Four to Capture Lightweight Crown
    , Sat, 15 Feb 2025
  • Secret is never retire
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sat, 15 Feb 2025
  • DUARTE VS. MADUEÑO WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Sat, 15 Feb 2025
  • "FIGHT NIGHT AT THE VETS CLUB III" Official Weights from Bridgewater (MA)
    , Sat, 15 Feb 2025
  • Denys Berinchyk Defends WBO Lightweight Title Tonight vs. Keyshawn Davis at Madison Square Garden
    , Sat, 15 Feb 2025
  • Weigh-In Results from Manchester: Catterall - 139.14 lbs; Barbosa - 139.10 lbs.
    , Sat, 15 Feb 2025
  • Experts Weigh In: Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones Jr., and Errol Spence Make Their Picks for Canelo vs. Crawford
    , Sat, 15 Feb 2025
  • Berinchyk vs Davis: Fight Week Racism Only Adds Fuel to Keyshawn’s Fire
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 14 Feb 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis
    , Fri, 14 Feb 2025
  • DUARTE VS. MADUEÑO FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 14 Feb 2025
  • THE REMATCH: WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION WILLIAM "EL CAMARÓN" ZEPEDA DEFENDS TITLE AGAINST TEVIN “2X” FARMER IN HIGH-STAKES CLASH
    , Fri, 14 Feb 2025
  • Former World Champion Richard Commey is back! Feb. 23rd at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre
    , Fri, 14 Feb 2025
  • THE BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA JUNIOR OPEN DEBUTS – ENTRIES NOW OPEN!
    , Fri, 14 Feb 2025
  • Jerusalem Eyes Repeat, Yudai Shigeoka Seeks Redemption in WBC 105 Lbs Title Rematch
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 14 Feb 2025
  • CATTERALL VS. BARBOZA JR + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 14 Feb 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.