However, when Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met for the third time on October 1, 1975, what followed would prove transcendent. It was arguably the last time the public saw Ali at his peak against a top competitor. Futch suspected that Ali would try the same maneuver against Frazier in their rubber match, so in the time leading up to the bout in the Philippines, Futch used political connections in getting Zach Clayton – the referee in that Zaire bout who did not prevent Ali from continued use of the tactic – blocked from officiating the Thrilla in Manila.
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Ali, for his part, had shrugged off the advancing years to swat aside Foreman at the Rumble in the Jungle and subsequently conclusive, if relatively low-key, wins over Chuck Wepner, Ron Lyle and Joe Bugner made him favourite see off the supposedly ailing former champion.
By 1975, Ali had fought Frazier twice.
There’s little any writer can do to adequately describe what transpired when Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought for the third time 40 years ago in Manila, Philippines.
To witness the skill, bravery and desire of fighters like Ali and Frazier is an apt reminder of what boxing – at its best – is all about.
“Ali (6’3″) had a significant height advantage over his rival from Philadelphia (Frazier was just over 5’11”) but the duo had already had two bruising encounters at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The bell that ended the 14th round was the last one to ring.
Neither the pace nor the brutality of the contest wavered for a moment heading into the championship rounds; Frazier, clearly behind on the scorecards, still harbouring realistic hopes that the cumulative effect of his juddering hooks would break Ali’s resistance.
In total, Ali outlanded Frazier 264-250. His lone loss came against 24-year old Leon Spinks, in a 15-round split decision.
Ali, 33, was making a fourth defence of the WBA and WBC world heavyweight titles after winning them from George Foreman in 1974. He retired in 1979. Ali, then 38, was at a physical and age disadvantage against Holmes, and it showed early. Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, would stop the fight before the 15th round. By Round 9, it was clear Ali could not defend himself, but the fight continued.
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In retrospect, the significance of the second fight is that it marked the end of Ali’s reign of dominance. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984.
