40th Anniversary, Thrilla in Manilla.

Hard to believe it was that long ago. I wonder how many people who were in attendance are now deceased. Probably most of the arena.

 

Neither man was at their peak, which I think enhanced the fight.

Ali lost his legs, and had no choice to fight back and slug with Frazier. Frazier was happy to mix it.

The fight had three acts.

Ali owned the early rounds. Frazier took over in the middle round up to round 11, then Ali owned rounds, 12, 13, and 14.

In my opinion, the 15th round could have been dramatic either way. Ali was spent. Frazier eyes to me didn't look that swollen to the point where he could not see.

Futch could have stopped it any second in the 15th by throwing in the towel and telling the ref he intends to do so if Frazier was in trouble.

 

It was a great fight. Frazier`s legend was enhanced even in defeat.

IMO the difference in this fight was Ali`s ability to rest for pocktets of each round. Even though Frazier was able to sweep many of the middle rounds he was working 3 minutes a round.

 

Too bad Frazier never really learned good defense as he needlessly took many punches which should have been prevented. He never clinched, step back, or deke properly from side to side in order to prevent or minimize the impact of a punch. This was why he wore down late in the fight.

Ironically, the fight was stopped and Ali fainted one minute later!

 

The great combat ****yst jack slack just put out an article on it.

http://fightland.vice.com/blog/the-lost-round-the-thrilla-in-manila-forty-years-on

 

Frazier was literally spitting cups of blood. Look at his corners towels, they were blood soaked. It was a truly vicious fight. Yes, his eye was busted up, not completely swollen up like you point out. But you have to keep in mind only Eddie Futch knew that Frazier was legally blind in one eye. When you are real friends with someone that would weigh heavy on you if they became blind "under your protection". Futch was a true old timer who saw 8 fighters die in the ring. I trust his judgement.

Frazier would agree with you though. This is what Freddie roach said in a 2011 interview: “Joe was upset with Eddie after he stopped that fight. I know he was mad at Eddie for a long time after that. It took a little time for him to get over it. But Eddie was trying to save his life,” said Roach.“Eddie knew that Joe was blind in one eye and he couldn’t see the punches coming. But you know fighters, we never want to stop the fight. That’s the nature of the fighter.”
http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/...-recall-frazier-whose-style-pacquiao-embodies

Look at R Garcia and the Margarito v Pacman fight. That should have been stopped yet Margarito's face and eye's were never the same. He physically looks different now from his younger photos and by all accounts had to have multiple surgeries from experts to get his eyes just to a basic level of sight. Disgraceful job from the corner in that one.

 

If you take a look at the 1st fight with Ali you`ll see that Ali missed a lot more punches that he normally did. Joe was slipping and rolling all night.
Frazier had to fight the way that he did being a shorter heavyweight he had to be aggressive and attack. When your right in a guy wheelhouse your always gonna get hit though Frazier had a helluva chin.

 

Because of the Foreman loss Frazier gets put down about his chin. His beard was tough though. Even against Foreman he kept getting up and wanting to fight. The guy had massive heart.

 

This bout signified the end of an era. Brutal - Neither man was the same again.



I scored it 8 - 6 for Ali.

 

The other thing barely mentioned is just how hot it was that night in the ring. Can you imagine which heavies since then could keep up a pace like that in that kind of heat? How about absorb punishment like that for that many rounds?

I thnk since about 1980, the fight is called off due to the high temperature and re-scheduled. And we the fight fans miss out on a great fight.