I just finished watching the Thrilla in manila documentary for the first time. and god that was the most amazing boxing documentary i've ever seen. I have to admit i didnt know the full story of what happened during that 14th round about how Ali was ready to quit and Frazier was practically blind from both eyes and still fighting at a furious pace, not to mention the blazing heat in manila. Incredible But I did feel bad about the bitterness between the two fighters even after everything was done and dusted, sad ending. Frazier is deffanately one of the top greats of all time
i watched on more4 twice and watched again last night and i have to admit i could watch it again tonight
heavyweights back then were in a whole new breed of fighter. the pace they fought at, the determination and punishment they took was crazy.
I kinda felt that Frazier was justified in his bitterness towards Ali. I mean, Ali humilated him in in front of the worlds cameras a number of times and slagged him off over a number of years, pulling race into it like he always does. If I was Frazier, I'd think f*ck Ali. He cant behave like he did over that period of time, and then just say "I sorry for my comments, I was just promoting the fight" and expect forgiveness. If Ali's comments were a one off, fair enough, but they werent - his words and actions over most of his career showed his true character. He doesent deserve to be as revered as he is now. That aside, fantastic documentary. Shame the fight didn't end in a draw!
Yeah, it was a decent documentary, I suppose it would be even better if you hadnt seen all 3 fights aswell as just about everything else involving Ali as I have but I still enjoyed it, there was good fight footage from the 1st & 3rd fights too. I prefered `When we were kings` myself, for me thats the best doc.
Dont listen to the biased views of the guys interviewed, Ali had a big lead going into the last rd on all cards, Joe needed a KO to win, a draw was out of the question. I own the real full fight & even if Joe had won the last rd - which looked highly unlikely considering his state in the previous 2 rds - it would have been a robbery to take the fight from Ali.
I've got the fight, not watched in full, but Ali had a big early lead before i stopped if i remember correctly, although I know joe had a come back of sorts mid rounds
I agree joe needed a ko to win, but after hearing Ali say to dundee cut off my gloves, and frazier on the other hand shouting at his corner to let him continue, who knows wat would have happened. This is always gona be a bit wat if....
Fair enough point about the scoring - I havent watched the full fight and scored it - in saying that I thought it was shame it wasnt a draw I meant more from the point of view that it was a shame there had to a loser given the amazing human effort shown by both fighters, and the fact that Frazier wanted to continue and Ali didnt - even if as you say that Ali was ahead on points.
yeah its on youtube, http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fODYeoHvH4I&feature=channel this guys got it in his videoz
Hey Draw99. I saw the fight live on close circuit in 1975 at the forum in Los Angeles. Among the other attendees was Sugar Ray Robinson. That fight was damn close when it ended. It went Ali, then Frazier, and then Ali in the 13th and 14th rounds. As one of the posters said, Ali was ready to quit and said he might have not come out for the 15th if Joe didn't quit first. A draw would not have been out of the question if Joe had a big 15th. I have watched it many many times over the years and I am always amazed at new stuff that I see when I see it again. Definitely one of the all time great heavyweight fights. I will watch the documetary tonight. What channel is it on?