The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla?

bxrfan · 07-24-2009, 11:00 PM

I'm going to have to go with FOTC on this one. Both guys were much closer to their primes then, and I believe the skill level was much more evident than in the third one. They weren't getting hit with punches they could've/should've blocked or dodged in the third fight, and both were in better condition for the first one.

ironchamp · 07-24-2009, 11:09 PM

For Pure action Thrilla takes it.

I don't think anybody realized what Joe Frazier was going to bring to the table. Ali's handlers actually thought that Joe was just a name at point. In fact it set records for most punches thrown in a HW fight until 1997 when David Tua and Ike Ibeabuchi broke that record.

FOTC was a great fight as well, but I lean towards fight 3

My2Sense · 07-25-2009, 12:06 AM

FOTC. Much more intense and dramatic IMO.

PetethePrince · 07-25-2009, 01:05 AM

Even though I find the FOTC as a fight is concerned to be underrated, I think the Thrilla in Manilla was the far better fight. As Teddy Atlas said, "They didn't quite have the skill and abilities so they met each other more often than they would have had they been younger or in their primes, but they still had that character. They still had that desire, grit, and determination. " He also said watching the fight was "humbling." Easily the third one for me.

The Predator · 07-25-2009, 01:15 AM

Yes, thrilla in manilla, for me as well.
The predator

My dinner with Conteh · 07-25-2009, 03:23 AM

FOTC would have been far better to experience at the time because it had all those elements of a great fight- two undefeated champs nearer their primes, a fight the whole world was interested in, while Manila had two fighters clearly on the slide.

However, I like to think of what my opinion would be if both these fights took place between any old Fighter A vs Fighter B- and Manila would always be wildly exiciting, that's why it gets my vote. Taking what happened 'in the ring', it's the better fight.

McGrain · 07-25-2009, 05:58 AM

FOTC. I don't enjoy watching Manilla to be honest.

Bokaj · 07-25-2009, 06:02 AM

It really is a 50-50 for me. FOTC sees them younger, smoother and quicker, but in Manilla the action swings more - making it even more exciting. It's much easier to decide which one I'd like a ringside seat at, though. That's FOTC, without a doubt. Ok, I'll let that swing it.

Bokaj · 07-25-2009, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McGrain

FOTC. I don't enjoy watching Manilla to be honest.

Why not?

McGrain · 07-25-2009, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bokaj

Why not?

They both take punches they should dump and they both get badly hurt.

Arka · 07-25-2009, 06:25 AM

FOTC for me. The action is more explosive and edge of the seat than the Thrilla. There is a noticeable decline in the athletic abilities of both Ali and Frazier in the second fight.

red cobra · 07-25-2009, 07:25 AM

My preference has always been the FOTC...it isn't fair to Frazier otherwise, as he was obviously past his peak by '75, after the toll that the ravages of the FOTC itself and the Foreman debacle had taken on him. I bet Frazier wishes that he had retired after the FOTC..his legacy and presitige would have been that of an undefeated champion...the "black Marciano", and he would be a legend.

he grant · 07-25-2009, 08:32 AM

Both were amazing for different reasons ..

The drama behind the first was unsurpassed . To me it is amazing Ali fought as well as he did. He really had little business being in that ring. It was in many ways his greatest and bravest performance.

Thrilla was brutal and painful but the story was Frazier ... few gave him a realshot coming in and the fact that he fought so tough till his body gave out was amazing ... the ironic twist at the end is legendary ..

brando18b4h · 07-25-2009, 08:53 AM

Thrilla in Manilla solidified both fighters legendary status. One of my all time favorites.

Stonehands89 · 07-25-2009, 09:15 AM

"The Fight of the Century". Easily.

As mentioned, it was a momentous clash between the recognized HW champ and Ali coming back to reclaim what he felt was rightfully his. Both undefeated. Clash of styles. Both nearest their respective primes. This fight was truly a world event.

Aesthetically, it has the better, more accurate demonstration of skill as well as herculean will. Even the ref, Mercante was better. I prefer watching elites at their best, rather than the brain-damaging wars of less skilled warriors or in the case of Manila -elites on the slide.

FOTC was boxing at its dramatic and scientific best. Manila went into the file of the abolitionists ...I can't watch it without feeling a bit guilty because of the damage I know full well it did to both men.

View Poll Results: The better fight
Fight of the Century	37	59.68%
Thrilla in Manilla	25	40.32%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll

07-24-2009, 11:00 PM	#1
bxrfan Sizzle ESB Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ball So Hard University Posts: 1,526 vCash: 1000	The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? I'm going to have to go with FOTC on this one. Both guys were much closer to their primes then, and I believe the skill level was much more evident than in the third one. They weren't getting hit with punches they could've/should've blocked or dodged in the third fight, and both were in better condition for the first one.
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07-24-2009, 11:09 PM	#2
ironchamp Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New York Posts: 2,781 vCash: 1230	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? For Pure action Thrilla takes it. I don't think anybody realized what Joe Frazier was going to bring to the table. Ali's handlers actually thought that Joe was just a name at point. In fact it set records for most punches thrown in a HW fight until 1997 when David Tua and Ike Ibeabuchi broke that record. FOTC was a great fight as well, but I lean towards fight 3
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07-25-2009, 12:06 AM	#3
My2Sense Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,971 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? FOTC. Much more intense and dramatic IMO.
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07-25-2009, 01:05 AM	#4
PetethePrince Slick & Redheaded East Side VIP Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 14,393 vCash: 1200	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? Even though I find the FOTC as a fight is concerned to be underrated, I think the Thrilla in Manilla was the far better fight. As Teddy Atlas said, "They didn't quite have the skill and abilities so they met each other more often than they would have had they been younger or in their primes, but they still had that character. They still had that desire, grit, and determination. " He also said watching the fight was "humbling." Easily the third one for me.
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07-25-2009, 01:15 AM	#5
The Predator Gatekeeper ESB Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 478 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? Yes, thrilla in manilla, for me as well. The predator
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07-25-2009, 03:23 AM	#6
My dinner with Conteh Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4,828 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? FOTC would have been far better to experience at the time because it had all those elements of a great fight- two undefeated champs nearer their primes, a fight the whole world was interested in, while Manila had two fighters clearly on the slide. However, I like to think of what my opinion would be if both these fights took place between any old Fighter A vs Fighter B- and Manila would always be wildly exiciting, that's why it gets my vote. Taking what happened 'in the ring', it's the better fight.
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07-25-2009, 05:58 AM	#7
McGrain Diamond Dog East Side VIP Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 34,759 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? FOTC. I don't enjoy watching Manilla to be honest.
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07-25-2009, 06:02 AM	#8
Bokaj Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 7,173 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? It really is a 50-50 for me. FOTC sees them younger, smoother and quicker, but in Manilla the action swings more - making it even more exciting. It's much easier to decide which one I'd like a ringside seat at, though. That's FOTC, without a doubt. Ok, I'll let that swing it.
Top

07-25-2009, 06:25 AM	#11
Arka newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Grimsby,United Kingdom Posts: 2 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? FOTC for me. The action is more explosive and edge of the seat than the Thrilla. There is a noticeable decline in the athletic abilities of both Ali and Frazier in the second fight.
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07-25-2009, 07:25 AM	#12
red cobra Undisputed Champion East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Sea of Tranquility Posts: 12,953 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? My preference has always been the FOTC...it isn't fair to Frazier otherwise, as he was obviously past his peak by '75, after the toll that the ravages of the FOTC itself and the Foreman debacle had taken on him. I bet Frazier wishes that he had retired after the FOTC..his legacy and presitige would have been that of an undefeated champion...the "black Marciano", and he would be a legend.
Top

07-25-2009, 08:32 AM	#13
he grant Historian/Film Maker East Side Guru Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 6,511 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? Both were amazing for different reasons .. The drama behind the first was unsurpassed . To me it is amazing Ali fought as well as he did. He really had little business being in that ring. It was in many ways his greatest and bravest performance. Thrilla was brutal and painful but the story was Frazier ... few gave him a realshot coming in and the fact that he fought so tough till his body gave out was amazing ... the ironic twist at the end is legendary ..
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07-25-2009, 08:53 AM	#14
brando18b4h Gatekeeper ESB Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 357 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? Thrilla in Manilla solidified both fighters legendary status. One of my all time favorites.
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07-25-2009, 09:15 AM	#15
Stonehands89 Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 5,149 vCash: 1000	Re: The better fight: Fight of the Century or Thrilla in Manilla? "The Fight of the Century". Easily. As mentioned, it was a momentous clash between the recognized HW champ and Ali coming back to reclaim what he felt was rightfully his. Both undefeated. Clash of styles. Both nearest their respective primes. This fight was truly a world event. Aesthetically, it has the better, more accurate demonstration of skill as well as herculean will. Even the ref, Mercante was better. I prefer watching elites at their best, rather than the brain-damaging wars of less skilled warriors or in the case of Manila -elites on the slide. FOTC was boxing at its dramatic and scientific best. Manila went into the file of the abolitionists ...I can't watch it without feeling a bit guilty because of the damage I know full well it did to both men.
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