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Remembering Ali and Frazier in Malacanang By Eddie Alinea PhilBoxing.com Tue, 17 Jan 2012 The boxing world celebrates with Muhammad Ali on his 70th birthday. Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay on January 16, 1942, assumed his Muslim name in the midst of his successful and colourful career, and completed his historic trilogy with equally great heavyweight Joe Frazier in Manila on October 1, 1975. The third Ali-Frazier fight for Ali?s world heavyweight crown, known as the ?Thrilla In Manila? was acknowledged as one of the greatest fights in the last century and up to the present time. Ali and Frazier, who died November last year, were born in the same month of January with the latter seeing the light on Jan. 14, 1944. Having imprinted the name of the Philippines in the world?s sporting map, both Ali and Frazier earned the love and respect of the Filipinos. Months after the Philippines earned the right to host the fight and especially in the one-month that preceded encounter, the country?s name and that of the Filipino were banner stories throughout the entire planet. Thanks to Ali, in particular, because of his penchant to sell his fights with colourful language , especially his words: ?It will be a killah ,,, it will be a chillah ? it will be a thrilla in Manila,? that gave birth to the theme of the showdown. Thirteen days before the confrontation, on Sept. 18, 1975, to be exact, the two fighters paid a courtesy call on President Marcos at Malacanang Palace accompanied by their respective entourage and the more than a dozen media men, representing local and foreign news outfits. Also present at the call were the First Lady Imelda Marcos and then Games and Amusement Board Chair, the late, Luis Tabuena, among others. This writer, who acted as Frazier?s press liaison, vividly remembers the occasion where President Marcos acted as an ?impromptu? referee at the duo?s pre-fight encounter that proved to be a hilarious confrontation that saw Ali and Frazier exchanging witty remarks with the Chief Executive and the First Lady. Frazier arrived at the Palace at 10:20 a.m. followed by Ali 10 minutes later. The champion was ushered in into the Study Room first and the moment the challenger walked in, Ali, in his usual loquacious manner, grabbed the opportunity to deliver the opening punch by saying: ?I didn?t know Frazier was comin?. It surprised me. I can?t stand trouble here. You see, Mr. President, everywhere we meet, in the ring, there?s violence.? To which, Marcos, by way of ?admonishing? both fighters, retorted smilingly: ?Keep your distance from each other and keep your trouble inside the ring.? When Ali said that he had learned the President used to box in college, the Chief Executive answered: Yes, wen I still weighed 112 pounds. That should make me flyweight. But that was many years ago.? Ali introduced his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. to the President, saying, ?this is a very great president.? Not to be outdone, Frazier stood up and greeted everybody, including Veronica, Ali?s wife then whereupon the champ stood up feigning mad as if to go after the smiling challenger. Marcos asked if that was the first time they met before the Araneta Coliseum (re-Christined Philippine Coliseum) 15-rounder, Ali replied, ?Yes, Mr. President, and this is the first time we met peacefully. And that is because you are in the middle. ? The President then remarked: ?It is a great pleasure to ?referee? a fight between two great champions,? drawing roar of approval from more than 100 people inside the Study Room. When Mrs. Marcos, who wore a pink dress with a matching multi-coloured scarf entered the room, Ali leaned on the President and said: ?I respect you more now than I did before, Mr. President. Looking at your wife, I can say that you?re not that dumb. You certainly know how to pick ?em,? making those in the hearing distance, raise their eyebrows. ?You are not far behind,? Marcos retorted. ? I believe though that the ladies always make the choice.? ?That?s right. ?We?re kinda nice lookin? ourselves,? Ali said, then, ever the chauvinist, added, ?but a woman is what her husband makes her. A man is what he makes himself.? Smokin? Joe joined in the fray as he turned to Vernica and said: ?Well, you?ve two more weeks to be the champion?s wife.? This ?irked? Ali, who told the President: ?Joe here is an old man. Look at his son Marvis, he?s 15 years old. Have a son who?s only three years old.? Frazier gave Marcos an autographed coloured picture of him and a ?Smokin Joe? t-shirt. ?I?m not sure this will fit me,? the President said. ?But I have a son (now Sen. Bongbong ) who?s about 18. He?s in Oxford learning how to fly.? Ali also presented the President his autographed photo. The President promised both he would keep the mementoes in his personal library. The courtesy call ended with Ali saying he and Frazier were honoured to be in Manila ? ?two black boys who have reached the heights among great men.? ?I want to thank the President for welcoming Joe Frazier and myself here at the Palace,? Ali said. ?It?s a big honour coming from America so far away for two uneducated black boys to meet such great men of the world.? ?I think this is a blessing before God and we are forever thankful. We will go back to the United States and tell all the people how we were treated here. I hope to come back to the country where I can see more and mingle with the people. The people are lovely. The people are friendly. The people are warm,? he said. A year later, during the first anniversary of the historic fight, Ali came back to preside over the inauguration of the Ali Mall, a shopping haven named after him by the owners of the Araneta Coliseum. ?I heard so much about the people here in Manila and I would say, what they said are all true,? Frazier, for his part, said. "From the time I arrived in the country, I already enjoy myself. The people here are great, fine people.? Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.  |
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