The Thrilla in Manila: 50 Years After the Final Bell
The Road to the Finale
In the months following his victory over George Foreman, Muhammad Ali was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, was invited to the White House by President Gerald Ford, and successfully defended his title three times. He was on top of the world, and many in his camp felt that it was time for him to step away from boxing. A few weeks prior to his rematch against Joe Bugner on July 1, 1975, Ali announced the fight would be his last and that he was retiring from boxing. While the announcement was mostly rehearsed as a publicity stunt for the Bugner II fight, Ali seemed genuinely emotional at the thought of leaving the sport...However, when a reporter asked him about Joe Frazier, he stated, "Joe Frazier! I want him bad. How much money do you think I can get if I go and whup Joe Frazier?"
The day after Ali's victory over Joe Bugner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Frazier joined the champion for a press conference to announce their third fight. During the press conference, Ali continuously corrected Frazier's grammar and pestered him about his speaking abilities, actions which only fueled the already heightened tensions between the two boxers.
