Thrilla In Manilla - That 15th Round

I believe Ali himself admits this

 

It was 115 degrees in the shade, or something like that, with something like 70% humidity. I'm astounded they managed 6, let alone 14. Ali may have had one of his better rounds of the fight, but it would have been one hell of an exhaustion at that point.

I have no trouble believing that Ali wasn't too keen on continuing. I'm not saying he wasn't, just that I don't find it that implausible.

 

On the subject though, even as a Frazier fan, there's no way I could have seen him winning and Futch made absolutely the correct call. There was no need for him to take more unnecessary punishment. Smokin' Joe was practically blind and taking shots left, right and centre. Also, I don't believe for a second that Ali - with all the heart he'd displayed throughout his career - wouldn't have come out for the 15th. It should have been stopped in the 13th in my opinion at the very least.

 

Ali was catching Frazier with straight right hands OPEN!!

need to remember as well the fight must have been level or a point either side when the fight was stopped, it was a huge call to make.

 

man i hate this "ali was just about to quit, so lets give the fight to fraizer" bull****. Ali was not going to quit, he used to say stuff like "cut them off" during fights (sonny liston 1 round 4, when he got stuff in his eyes) and angelo would send him out. He would never, ever have quit simple as that. Fraizer was ****ED UP! watch the videos, he couldnt even move. So no, Ali wasnt going to quit

 

While Ali may have won the 14th clearly, I disagree that it was an EASY round. Frazier was much hindered by his eye injuries, but still throwing hurtful shots , putting on the pressure , and making Ali work.
With this in mind, it's totally believable that Ali may have considered quitting. He hit Frazier with everything he had . It's no secret that Ali had chronic knuckle pain, was exhausted, and suffering from the assault Frazier centered on his midsection.The heat was unbearable. Both their gloves seemed watterlogged with sweat and humidity.
Since Ali himself admitted it, and has never showered any of his opponents with false praise, I'm inclined to believe that Ali may have considered packing it in

 

Ali would never quit. people need to remember that Frazier was the one with the bad eyes. the red either stops it or Ali takes a desicion

 

Ali collapsed after it, despite being i control at that stage he had nothin left in the tank.

 

Ali wanted to quit after the 10th. The rumour about him wanting to quit just before Frazier did, is just to make the fight seem more epic.

 

There are a lot of speculation but the thing that is sure is that Ali was kicking Frazier ass big time in the 14. The desire of both to fight and win is inhuman. I'm not sure anyone of them was ready to quite especially Ali after all the **** talking.

 

I think it was after round 10 when Ali thought about quitting (after losing the last 5 rounds), it was extremely hot and both men had taken punishment. Ali had won the first 5 and Joe the next five. Dundee told Ali to get back out there as Joe was tiring and Ali could take advantage of this.
The rest is history, it was very close going into the 15th, Frazier couldnt see and Futch stopped him from going out (good move) despite Frazier protesting to fight on. Ali collapsed in the ring afterwards (i think).
Onew of the greatest fights of all time but the brutality took a lot out of both men. We will never know what was likely to happen if Futch let Frazier go out but i think Ali would have had enough adrenaline to box his way to a decision.

 

I am all for this! Yeah baby, yeah!

 

It makes for a good story but Ali fought for years to get that title back. If anyone thinks that he would simply sit on his stool and quit, when Frazier was as good as dead, then you don't know a thing about the man.....