| |
|
THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 1 - MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III AFTER 50 YEARS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 May 2025
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III was called the Thrilla in Manila, and it was the third and final professional boxing match between undisputed champion heavyweight Muhammad Ali and former heavyweight world champion Joe Frazier, for the heavyweight championship of the world. It was held on October 1, 1975, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
The contest's name is derived from Ali's rhyming brag that the fight would be "a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila." That he arrogantly recited while punching a gorilla doll that symbolized his opponent.
The 1st of October this year will mark the 50th anniversary of a truly magnificent and classic world heavyweight title fight. It was a savage and barbaric fight that has been considered by many fans and scribes as the greatest battle in the history of the heavyweight division.
Muhammad Ali, nicknamed "The Greatest", was from Louisville, Kentucky, USA. During that time he was the WBA, WBC and The Ring undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He won these titles from George Foreman in October 1974 during the very popular "Rumble in the Jungle" in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Joe Frazier, nicknamed "Smokin'Joe", was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, USA and lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was the former undisputed world heavyweight champion. He won the WBA and vacant WBC heavyweight titles in February 1970 when he stopped Jimmy Ellis in the 4th round. He lost his title to George Foreman in January 1973.
Ali earned a purse of $9,000,000 while Frazier got $5,000,000. The pre-fight record is 48–2 (34 KO)s for Ali and 32–2 (27 KOs) for Frazier. Ali was 33 years, 8 months while Frazier was 31 years, 8 months.
Ali stood at 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) while Frazier's height was 5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (182 cm). Ali's weight was 224 1⁄2 lbs (102 kg) while Frazier weighed 215 1⁄2 lbs (98 kg). Both were Orthodox style fighters.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
, Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
, Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
, Tue, 08 Jul 2025UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
, Mon, 07 Jul 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
