The Thrilla in Manila: 50 Years After the Final Bell

Due to timezone differences and to accommodate as many closed circuit viewers as possible, the long-anticipated fight took place October 1, 1975 at 10:45 in the morning in Manila, making it 7:45pm on September 30, 1975 in the champ’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

The first three rounds of the fight were all Ali – he was besting Joe with quickness and flurries of punches. In round four, he began to tire and Frazier took control of the fight. Contradictory to his usual fighting style, round seven showed a tired Ali with his feet hardly moving from the canvas as both fighters stood in the middle of the ring, exchanging blow after blow. Something woke inside of Ali in the twelfth round and he once again took control of the fight, landing punches on Frazier that the challenger could not avoid. In round thirteen, the champ sent Frazier’s mouthpiece flying into the crowd with a devastating punch. By the end of round fourteen, Joe Frazier’s face was bloody and swollen, impairing his vision in both eyes. Frazier's trainer, Eddie Futch, recognized the dire condition of his fighter and said to him, "Joe, the fight's over. I'm stopping it. You're taking too much punishment, and I don't want to see you take any more." Despite Frazier's protests that he could continue, Futch signaled to the referee that the boxer could not continue.

Joe Frazier did not answer the bell for round fifteen; Muhammad Ali remained the Heavyweight Champion of the world.

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III Photograph, October 1, 1975