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Philippines, 03 May 2024 |
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THRILLA IN MANILA By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Tue, 01 Oct 2013  Thirty eight years ago today, the greatest boxing fight of the century derived its name from a poem recited by one of its participant, the great Muhammad Ali. ?It will be a thrillah, And a killah, And a chillah, When I get the gorilla In Manila.? It was more of an insult than a rhythmical literary piece. It was a cheap shot by Ali directed at his rival, his three time opponent, the other piece of that great fight - Joe Frazier. Ali has been in a prolonged outburst of mockery and scorn against Frazier dating to their second fight. It was ugly yet funny at times, given the way how Ali delivers it. It was delivered in public yet Ali?s attacks of the Philadelphia legend was that of personal nature. It was entertaining but hurtful. What was viewed as a promotion to the fight, both their second and third, became a rallying point- a personal rallying point for Frazier. And even when Ali acknowledged in an interview decades after that historic night in Manila - that was all it was all to promote the fight, Frazier did not share that same thought of his archrival both in and out of the squared ring. Frazier took the insults in silence, even smiling at times. Yet, inside he was boiling. And in that morning in Quezon City, inside the boiling water temperature of the Araneta Coliseum - Frazier let it loose against his hated foe. The fight brought the best of Joe Frazier. It showed the world his courage, his guts and his bravery. Frazier went in that ring ready to die - and he showed it. To Ali, it was just another fight; to him it is a fight for respect, for revenge, for self-esteem. But it also brought the best out of Ali. He took Frazier?s thunderous shots, mostly in the middle rounds - all of them and yes he withstood all of them. He took Frazier?s hooks to his body, shoulders, arms, hips and Frazier?s signature punch - the left hook to his head. No normal man, or any trained fighter could have survived those sledgehammers by Frazier but Ali did that day. Frazier did not wither himself. In the 13th round, when his mouthpiece was knocked out of his mouth courtesy of a hellacious right from Ali, he kept going. He kept coming even after taking additional punishment from Ali who is now in control. And in round 14, without any decent vision on both of eyes, Frazier was like Don Quixote charging windmills - only the windmill is a real heavyweight giant with punitive fists that continually battered him. Frazier was in a personal mission that day in the Philippines and he is ready to lay everything he has to fulfill it. He vehemently protested Eddie Futch?s decision to stop the fight after the 14th. It was something that disturbed him all his life. Ali was exhausted and spent after the 14th, he wanted to quit but his trainer Angelo Dundee would not allow him to quit. Just like how he pushed Ali in training, Dundee pushed Ali to continue fighting in what has become the most brutal fight of the trilogy. The Thrilla in Manila brought the best and worst of both fighters. It brought their enviable will to fight but also showcased their personal hatred of each other. It made both winners and losers at the same time. Ali won but was never the same after that fight. Frazier lost but gained the respect of everyone, including the rival that mocked him. What transpired that morning at the Araneta Center was more than boxing. It was a battle of will, physicality and heart between two of the greatest fighters of our time. It was sadistic but it showed the virtues of humanity that we adore, like courage, bravery and determination. It was a brutal display of barbarism but it was something to behold. It was the greatest fight of all time. You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .  |
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