THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 2 - FIRST ALI-FRAZIER FIGHT, THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 21 May 2025
The "Thrilla in Manila" is almost widely regarded as one of the best and most barbaric fights in the history of boxing, and was the climax of a three-bout rivalry between the two legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. It was estimated that the fight was watched by 1 billion viewers, including 100 million fans watching the match on closed-circuit theatre television, and 500,000 pay-per-view buys on HBO home cable television.
The first fight between Frazier and Ali was billed as the "Fight of the Century". The encounter took place on March 8, 1971, in New York's Madison Square Garden. Frazier was the undefeated heavyweight champion and Ali was the previously undefeated former heavyweight champion, who had been stripped of his titles for declining the draft for the Vietnam War.
The Fight of the Century was an undisputed heavyweight championship boxing match between WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and lineal heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.
Their first fight is widely regarded as the biggest boxing match in history and that time was considered as the single most anticipated and publicized sporting event ever. A global audience witnessed the boxing extravaganza. It was the first time that two undefeated boxers who held or had held the world heavyweight title fought each other for the same undisputed title.
The bout was highly publicized and attracted several spectators, including non-boxing and non-sport fans. Ali, who had been stripped of his titles by boxing authorities for refusing to submit himself to the draft for the Vietnam War, had become a symbol of the anti-establishment public during his government-imposed exile from the ring. On the contrary, Frazier supported the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war, and he had been adopted by elements of the public with alternate views. In addition, both fighters had severe personal grudges against each other.
Frazier won the bout in fifteen rounds by unanimous decision (8–6–1, 9–6, 11–4). Ali suffered his first professional defeat. It became the first of a trilogy of legendary fights. Their clash was a speedy, 15-round bout, with Frazier scoring the fight's only knockdown at the onset of the final round.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Past Week in Action 16 June 2025: Hitchins Stops Kambosos; Wins by Andy Cruz and Teremoana; Donaire Returns
By Eric Armit, Tue, 17 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 9 - MUHAMMAD ALI WINS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 17 Jun 2025OKC Nears First NBA Title in Thunder Era; Outclasses Indiana, 120-109 in Game 5
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Crawford Refutes #3 P4P Ranking; WBA Doesn't Forget Nonito Donaire
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 17 Jun 2025GM John Paul Gomez joins Touchmove in Roxas City
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Perfect foe, perfect outcome
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Prospects Collide Results: Rajon Chance Defeats Yan Carlos Perez
Tue, 17 Jun 2025Undefeated Russian super middleweight Petr “The Surgeon” Khamukov to headline This Friday in Long Beach on DAZN
Tue, 17 Jun 2025International Boxing & MMA Consultants Appointed to serve as El Salvador Professional Combat Sport Commission
Tue, 17 Jun 2025Sasotize teams champion and 1st runner up in 2nd JCI Senate Chess Tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 17 Jun 2025USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team Concluded World Boxing Championship 2025 With Nine Medals
Mon, 16 Jun 2025"The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire Makes Stunning Comeback, Wins Interim WBA 118-lbs Title in Argentina!! (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025DAZN is Set to Make Exciting Debut in Thailand with Thrilling Dream Boxing/Highland Boxing Show
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025Hitchins Dominates, Stops Kambosos Jr. in Eighth Round to Retain IBF Super Lightweight Title
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 15 Jun 2025THAI SIMSRI READY FOR CHRISTIAN ARANETA IN IBF WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN THURSDAY IN JAPAN; WILL THE CEBUANO “BOMB” STOP HIM?
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025