The Thrilla in Manila: 50 Years After the Final Bell

Following the excitement of the "Thrilla in Manila", Joe Frazier fought only two more times before his retirement from boxing. In 1976, he fought George Foreman for the second time and lasted three more rounds before being defeated once again by the bigger boxer. His final fight took place against journeyman boxer Floyd Cummings on December 3, 1981; eight days prior to Muhammad Ali's final fight on December 11, 1981, against Trevor Berbick. 

After Frazier retired from boxing for good, he purchased a boxing gym and the contracts of all of its associated fighters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the goal of becoming a trainer. He trained his sons, Marvis and Joe Jr., who both had promising starts to their careers, although neither lasted as long in the profession as their father. While his heart was in training boxers, his head was often mulling over old memories of his fights against Muhammad Ali. Frazier's friend and business manager, Burt Watson, stated:

"On a five-hundred-mile trip, that can get mighty tiring, hearing about Ali. We were on our way to Florida once, and I happened to pay a small compliment to Ali. Joe squealed a turn into a gas station. I got out, looked up and he's speeding away. Where was he going? I was in the middle of nowhere. Do you know, I waited tow hours there. Finally he comes back and says, '...Some things best left unsaid.'" - From Ghosts of Manila by Mark Kram

Although Joe Frazier had not forgiven Muhammad Ali for the things he said to him during their storied rivalry, the pair came together on April 14, 1991 at a black-tie gala held in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Fight of the Century. The proceeds from the gala benefitted Frazier's Golden Gloves, Inc. and the Muhammad Ali Saving Our Future Foundation.

Twentieth Anniversary Black Tie Gala Program, April 14, 1991