‘Thrilla in Manila’ marks 30th anniversary

It was 30 years ago today when the Philippines hosted the most talked-about world heavyweight title fight ever–the climax of the Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier trilogy.

The date was Oct. 1, 1975, and the place was the Araneta Coliseum. Because the bout–promoted as the "Thrilla In Manila"–was beamed live via satellite to the US on prime time, action began at about 10:45 a.m. In the US, the date was Sept. 30.

Ali and Frazier were bitter rivals. In 1971, Ali lost a unanimous 15-round decision to Smokin’ Joe and was decked in the process. Three years later, Ali beat Frazier on points in a return bout.

The rubber match was inevitable. "There will be a thrilla and a chilla and a killa when I get the gorilla in Manila," declared Ali.

The Philippine government was in the thick of preparations for the fight. Games and Amusements Board chairman Luis Tabuena’s mandate was to showcase the Philippines as a sports mecca and an attractive tourist destination despite martial law imposed three years before by President Marcos.

To lure Ali and Frazier to Manila, they were paid a combined purse of $10 Million.

The events leading up to the "Thrilla" were carnival-like. Both fighters set up training camps and organizers sold tickets for fans to watch the sweat sessions. Ali arrived with an entourage of 38, including bodyguard Murad Muhammad and a stunningly beautiful fashion model Veronica Porche.

A scandal broke out when Ali’s wife Belinda suddenly planed in from Chicago to confront her philandering husband after reports circulated he introduced Porche to President Marcos as his spouse at a Malacañang function. From the airport, the scorned Belinda went straight to Ali’s suite at the Manila Hilton Hotel and spewed venom. After giving Ali a piece of her mind, she stormed back to the airport and took the first flight out to the US.

Hollywood celebrities flew in to witness the proceedings. Actor Hugh O"Brien and comedian Flip Wilson joined heavyweight contender Ken Norton on the TV broadcast panel anchored by Howard Cosell.

Promoters Bob Arum and Don King were in town to hype the fight. In Ali"s training staff were Angelo Dundee, former middleweight fighter George Benton and loyal second Drew (Bundini) Brown. The legendary Eddie Futch–who taught Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach the tricks of the trade–was in Frazier’s corner.

Ali’s chief sparring partner was future heavyweight champion Larry Holmes who knocked out Rodney Bobick in the undercard. Another appetizer was a Philippine bantamweight championship fight between champion Fernando (Ding) Cabanela and ambitious challenger Rolando Navarrete. Cabanela pounded out a decision over the "Bad Boy from Dadiangas" who would later capture the world superfeatherweight crown.

Three referees were brought in as candidates to work the "Thrilla." Zach Clayton, Arthur Mercante and Harry Gibbs were the nominees but President Marcos instructed Tabuena to pick a Filipino instead. The job went to Carlos (Sonny) Padilla. The judges were all Filipino. Padilla was also a judge. The others were former fighter Larry Nadayag and Alfredo Quiazon.

The ring announcer was Joe Cantada, the country’s best sportscaster of all time. He wore a barong Tagalog in introducing the main event. As Cantada spoke, Ali seized the championship trophy in the middle of the ring and brought it to his corner. Frazier wasn’t amused.

Stephen Totillo, writing in Boxing Illustrated, estimated a crowd of 25,000 at the Big Dome.

Ali, 33, weighed in at 224 1/2 pounds. Fraizer, 31, tipped the scales at 215 1/2.

When the bell rang, Ali was off to the races. He danced, waltzed and gracefully peppered Frazier’s head with jarring combinations. Ali won the first two rounds on the three judges’ scorecards. Frazier rebounded in the middle rounds as Ali appeared to run out of wind.

Frazier was relentless in his attack, boring in without hesitation. He never took a step back. Ali lashed out with piercing jabs, which Frazier absorbed without flinching. Frazier didn’t mind taking punishment for the chance to dish out some himself. He concentrated on sapping Ali’s energy by hammering away at the body.

The fight was brutal. Ali and Frazier battled like gladiators fighting to the death. This was their defining moment as warriors. There was much more than the world title at stake. There was pride.

"The men were exhausting themselves, declaring themselves impervious to each other’s attacks," said Totillo. "Each fighter was his worst enemy. Neither man could knock the other down. Each fighter could only dare the other one to push himself past the limit, to knock himself out."

Before the 11th round, Ali almost quit on his stool. He later confessed he thought about giving up because the way he felt, "it was the closest thing to dyin’."

Somehow, Ali had enough gas in his tank to pull off a miraculous recovery. In the 12th, he found his second wind and started to connect with impunity. "Joe’s face began to lose definition and like emerging islands from the sea, massive bumps rose up around his eyes, especially the left," noted Mark Kram in his book "Ghosts of Manila."

Frazier could hardly see from his badly swollen left eye and Ali used it for target practice. Ali repeatedly struck from Frazier’s blind side and ripped a vicious hook that sent Smokin’ Joe’s mouthpiece flying seven rows into the audience in the 13th round.

Frazier had nothing left in the 14th. And Ali knew it.

"It was the most savage round of the 14 Ali and Frazier fought," wrote Kram. "It brought out guilt that made one want to seek out the nearest confessional for the expiation of voyeuristic lust. Nine straight right hands smashed into Joe’s left eye, 30 or so in all during the round. When Joe’s left side capsized to the right from the barrage, Ali moved it back into range for his eviscerating right with crisp left hooks and at the round’s end, the referee guided Joe back to his corner."

Futch mercifully ended it then and there. Frazier begged to continue. "Sit down, son," said Futch. "It’s over. No one will ever forget what you did here today."

After 14 rounds, Padilla had it 66-60, Nadayag 66-62 and Quiazon 67-62, all for Ali, on the five points must system. It went down into the record books as a 14th round technical knockout win for Ali and the most unforgettable fight in the annals of the Sweet Science.