THRILLA IN MANILA: POST MORTEM
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 06 Oct 2017
The Thrilla in Manila was over and as Muhammad Ali himself said, ?We went to Manila as champions, Joe and me, and we came back as old men.?
It was a good thing Joe Frazier?s trainer Eddie Futch kept his ward from coming out for the 15th and final round or ?Smokin? Joe might have died in the ring.
Or Muhammad Ali, who had successfully defended his world heavyweight title as a consequence, would have had to go out there again, too, and he might not have lasted long himself. He was near the end of his rope.
Ali, summing it up best, said right in his dugout while reclining, exhausted on the table, said: ?I always bring out the best in the men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I?ll tell the whole world right now, bring out the best in me. That?s one helluva man, and God bless him.?
A wilted Ali told sportswriters: ?I?m happy there are no more Joe Frazier to fight. I will never call him a gorilla again,? he vowed then summoned Frazier?s son Marvis and told him: ?Tell your dad the things I said I really didn?t mean.?
Told of what Ali said, the fallen challenger told Marvis: ?Tell him to tell that to me personally himself.?
Frazier then turned to everybody who cared to listen saying, ?Man, I hit him with punches that?d bring the walls of a city. Lawdy ? lawdy? he?s a great champion!?
The former slaughterhouse hand fulfilled the promise he made to media men to host a victory party for them at his hotel where he danced and sang all night long with friends, including Games and Amusements Board chair and fight co-promoter Louie Tabuena and agriculture secretary Arturo ?Bong? Tangco.
Ali was rushed to the hospital right after the encounter for emergency treatment before attending a victory party hosted in his honor by First Lady Imelda Marcos at Malacanan Palace.
The next morning in his Hilton Hotel suite, he confessed he had been urinating blood since fight night. ?Everything in me is on flame.? His right hand was in pain and swollen. He tried to make a fit but couldn?t.
?What this man do to me?? he asked. ?Why do I do this? He asked looking at the scenic Manila Bay. ?Couple of times like I was leaving my body. The animal could have killed me. That man weren?t human in there. I must be crazy for what? This is it for me. It?s over.?
Back at Frazier?s hotel, Futch was talking by way of explaining why he had thrown in the towel. ?Joe?s puffed up. By the thirteenth, he could rarely see. His face was a mess, and I wanted to stop it right there. But he wanted one more round.?
Joe confessed to this writer once that he? been fighting half blind all his pro-career caused by injury while still an amateur and only people close to him knew this.
?When I saw him barely walked to his corner with the help of referee (Carlos) Padilla, I knew he? had enough,? he recalled.
?I said, it ain?t worth getting his brain scrambled. Joe?s got a fine family and a great future. I stopped it. I ain?t sorry.?
?Joe just couldn?t take one more round. I told him, son, If you couldn?t see him the last few rounds, how can you be sure you can see him in the 15th,? Futch said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SCHOFIELD VS. TELLEZ GIRON FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 01 Nov 2024WEIGHTS FROM ORLANDO FLORIDA
Fri, 01 Nov 2024Team USA Sends Five Boxers to the World Boxing U19 Championship Finals and a Chance at Gold
Fri, 01 Nov 2024Press Conference Notes: Robson Conceição and O'Shaquie Foster Promise to Settle Rivalry in Saturday's World Title Rematch
Fri, 01 Nov 2024Undefeated bantamweight prospect Dominique “Dimes” Crowder Ready to cash in on The Boardwalk
Fri, 01 Nov 2024Kevin Arquero rules 3rd Fide Master Angelito Z. Camer Rapid Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 31 Oct 2024Plania stops Julio in 3rd round
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 31 Oct 2024MARIO "EL AZTECA" BARRIOS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Thu, 31 Oct 2024Mama fails to win WBO NABO fly
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 31 Oct 2024Top Rank Presents Junior Lightweight World Championship: Robson Conceição vs. O'Shaquie Foster 2
Thu, 31 Oct 2024Membership of World Boxing rises to 51 National Federations after it approves applications from seven more countries
Thu, 31 Oct 2024Malik Scott in Zurdo Ramirez’ corner
Thu, 31 Oct 2024GM Daniel Quizon favorite in the Kamatyas Rapid Open chess tournament in Isabela
Thu, 31 Oct 2024Filipino Boxers Ready for Thrilling Action in Thailand (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 30 Oct 2024Kamatyas Rapid Open chess tournament goes to Isabela
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 30 Oct 2024