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

You're probably right.

 

Great avatar,Cobra.

 

Worldwide, of course he is but he doesnt have nowhere near as much fans on ESB as he has on other sites, he actually has a few that dislike him due to his verbal treatment of Joe amongst other things.
It seems to be the ESB consensus to not rate Ali as high as most others do just because of his fame, Teeto says something similar, I dont remember word for word but I remember feeling he hit the nail on the head.

:good

 

:nono

Not to feel better, just to see the opinions of the classic section.

Feel free to head over to the general or Brit forum while its being discussed if you like, its a free world I hear

 

I think Ali disliked Frazier after the FotC,because of the blow to his ego,especially the way Frazier took the limelight.

He grew fonder of him after Foreman did a number on Joe and he himself beat him twice afterwards.



BTW I admit the final few rounds of the Thrilla were a very satisfactory ending to the trilogy

 

Well,remember, he faints at the end of Rumble . Seeing this Bundini starts crying.

 

Really? I remember him sort of being lifted up into the air by supporters after the Rumble, I don't remember him fainting? :huh

 

He faints for a moment in the throng. It's noticeable.
I believe Norman Mailer commented on it.

Must have been the emotions and relief.

 

What are you talking about ?

Ali sat down in the middle of the ring to avoid all the commotion because the ring was full, he hated all that **** directly after a fight.

He did the same in the 3rd Frazier fight but that time, he was thankful for a seat, he needed one.

 

He's faints,while he's standing among the crowd- immediately after the fight ends.
He snaps out of it a couple of seconds later.

Check the footage. It's there.

 

Thrilla in Manila.

 

Boxing is skill, drama, a test.

Skillwise, of course FOTC is greater. The stage was bigger, too.

But it seems to me Frazier more or less had it in the bag after the 11th at the Garden. In fact, after Ali's amazing barrage at the end of the 9th, I struggle to remember anything offensively noteworthy by him. Besides, both men were still young, so, regardless of the result, it was natural to look to future, perhaps even greater thrills down the line.

Manila was the final showdown. Everything was on the line. The men were older, worn, fat. But they still retained much of their skill, and, as was eventually proven, their indomitable will was intact.

Every last resource was called upon by both sides. The men punched with primal passion, there were many searing tide turns, and both left part of their essence in that ring. I just don't see this at FOTC.

Even in defeat on his stool, a blinking, swollen, head-shaking Frazier looks a titan to me. The result of the fight seems in a way irrelevant. Both men proved to be equals.

 

The FOTC for me is a great fight in action and skills and a great fight.

The Thrilla is amazing to me that 2 past prime rivals put in that much into the fight i sit there in awe and wonder at them i really do.

i dont know which ones better but there both great and will always be remembered

 

I suppose that's fair enough. I'm pretty sure I can find a quote of him ranking out another fighter somewhat like that though. When did Ali diss Frazier's family? In fact, I remember him eating with Frazier's cousins.' I guess he just hated Joe but was fine with hanging out with his family? By the way, do you know when/where that quote takes place. Any film on it?

If Ali hated him then he must've hated him in his home. I don't think it translates into anything I've seen on film. I think he may have thought that Frazier was a man who "didn't know where he was going" or wasn't as "smart" but Ali thought that for most fighters. Even the "ignorant" fight in the studio is such a laugh to watch. Ali is completely clowning with that fake angry expression when getting pulled back by people. Even the tone of his voice, "Sit down Joe." And then the "QUICK JOE!" classic. Joe was pissed and mad and I know Joe rightfully maybe hated Ali. Not sure the other way though.

 

Ive seen the fight about 50 times, no need to check it again.