Why is Thrilla In Manilla ranked over the Fight of the century?

Well tbh, there's a fairly high % of people that rank the FOTC higher than the Thrilla in Manilla, in fact I think the majority who have seen both do.

For me I rank the Thrillia in Manilla higher simply because of my age. I was a bit too young to have watched the FOTC being about 8 at the time, and never followed boxing until shortly after that. So the Thrilla in Manilla was one of the first fights I ever saw.

 

true, i also prefer fotc before manilla. more exciting fight, like you said Frazier was in his prime

 

There might have been a bit of marketing involved, just putting that out there.

Said marketing might have been justified in hindsight.

The fight of the century, was probably Louis Schmeling II.

That was arguably the pivotal turning point in the colour bar.

 

Probably because it was the most dramatic of the Ali- Frazier trilogy. It was the fight both fighters reached their physical and emotional limits. Frazier was almost blind in the last two rounds and Ali was on the verge of exhaustion. It was the fight in which the two rivals demanded more from each other.

 

I think because it was the "rubber match'' as the series was tied 1-1. I also think it was more action packed - Ali certainly got hit more in the third fight. Also, it marked Ali's last really good performance.

 

strangely, for a long time you couldn't watch this fight. It was unavailable on DVD and was never replayed. I don't know if there was something going on with the rights?

FOTC did not receive its deserve recognition because it did not follow the narrative. The Press cast Ali and Frazier as representatives of differing political agendas. The predominantly liberal press run happy with the result.

 

The FOTC was the better fight,technically,but the Thrilla was just as,if not more,savage.

 

Manila was more gruelling, both fighters had deteriorated to the point they were around the same level and that made for one of the most punishing fights we'll ever see. FOTC by far had more skill involved

 

Cause its a much better fight.

FOTC is a very overrated fight IMO

 

Here, at least, the FOC seems to be favored. I disagree and see the third one as the better fight, with more distinct shifts in momentum and more of a sense of drama somehow......like these two were driving each other off a cliff, and they both knew it. The first fight lacked that to me. Good fight though.

 

ESPN's "Superfights" showed it regularly in the 1980's. This was bevore ESPN Classic existed.

 

Totally disagree that the FOTC is overrated GM; maybe you weren't around or too young at the time?
I'll agree that Manilla MAY have been a more 'competitive' fight but both were past prime and had had their 'bells rung' previously.
A past prime rubber match.
I'm reminded of Monzon-Valdez tho they never had fought before but, by the time they finally met, they were both well past prime.
Like the FOTC, a 73-74 Carlos-Rodrigo s**** would have been a 'humdinger' IMO.

 

FOTC for me was the greatest of the 3

 

Only portions, not the complete fight